Live Report: Cry Monster Cry at The Pepper Cannister Church

A beautifully lit backdrop awaited fans at The Pepper Canister Church just off St Stephen's Green in Dublin's city centre.

The acoustics and fantastic lighting organised ensured that an audience already excited for Cry Monster Cry's first show in person since the pandemic began were ready to be awed by an at-times eerie atmosphere.

Before the Dublin duo greeted us, Sebastian Schub got everyone in a great mood with a stellar opening set.

Schub acknowledged the irony of playing a gig in a church, noting that he wasn't religious before jumping into a powerful song, 'God Ain't Real'.

Through his short set, the singer more than outlined his headline potential with a fantastic show for an up and coming artist. He is undoubtedly one to watch over the next year.

Cry Monster Cry then joined the stage after a short intermission. The Dublin band delivered a well-performed show, not showing any signs of rust that would have been understandable.

They were determined to put songs from their latest record, 2019's Tides, at the front and centre of their set. Singer and guitarist Richie Martin explained that those tunes didn't get a chance to shine after the tour for their release was cut short due to COVID-19.

A performance of 'Citadel' was one of the most well-received from the crowd, some of whom the band made sure to mention were family members and friends.

Although in large part, the show was a big success, it must have been hard to follow Sebastian Schub after he obliterated the stage with just an acoustic guitar. The two Martin brothers brought experience to the fore as accomplished musicians who can always hold their own.

A cover of Mic Cristopher's 'Listen Girl' proved to be one of the standout moments. Richie explained that Mic Cristopher was one of the pair's favourite artists and a significant influence growing up. The sing-along that occurred in the latter part of the track was a lovely moment.

Another major highlight of the show was an interpolation of Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry' in the band's last song. Richie and Jamie left the small stage at the front of the church's altar to join the audience in the pew, encouraging everyone to sing along before bidding farewell.

In terms of their overall set, the folk group delighted their fans, ensuring a lovely homecoming for the band.

Listen to Cry Monster Cry's most recent album, Tides below: