There is a buzz around Carlow’s 79 Cortinaz. Since August they have released two catchy singles, ‘The Amazing Sound Of’ and ‘Deirdre’s Song’, confirming their status as ones to watch. So it was with high hopes that I trotted off to see them in the Temple Bar Music Centre.
Considering the gig was in aid of Beaumount Hospital this hack – usually not one to look a gift horse in the mouth – felt bad getting in for free. My guilt was not assuaged by the fact that it had clearly not been a sell-out. Although there were bums on seats, the venue was far from heaving.
The opening act, Sons Of San Quentin, were a classic rock act whose mission was to entertain. They gave us a frontman with Springstein-esque moves and a guitarist who threw in a few evangelical-style call and response refrains for good measure. This was followed by Dahlia, a teen angsty band, although better than most acts of that description. I have to admit seeing young kids on stage with guitars brought out my maternal instincts – I must be getting old. Then came Alias Glee’s moody melodies and a really good vocalist who, without a guitar, looked unsure of what to do with his hands.
No such problems for Handsum Binmen, who burst on stage with kinetic energy and proceeded to rip it up. The final support was given by Jaded Sun who put on a good show, finishing with a cracking cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Freebird’.
However, 79 Cortinaz were the most polished and accomplished musicians on the night. Gala Hutton has an incredible vocal range and there is a haunting, ethereal quality to his voice. He and the rest of the band looked impressively in-control and at home on stage. Their songs are well crafted and radio friendly, but I felt there was something lacking; they didn’t connect with the audience in the way some of the support bands had done. It’s hard to pin down why, but after a while my attention drifted and the music became little more than a background distraction.
Although I’m not slating the group and wouldn’t be surprised if they made it, on this particular night I just wasn’t grabbed by 79 Cortinaz.