The Chalets live at McHugh's, Drogheda

The Chalets, have of late, been the band that likes to say 'no'. Although it’s been three years since ‘Theme From The Chalets’ marked the start of their ascendancy from the fringes of the Dublin scene and two since the critical clamour that greeted the Check In album, they’re refusing to be rushed into a hurried return to action. It’s been a full seven months since their last live outing and virtually a year since they graced an Irish stage. You could call this appearance at the Drogheda Arts Festival a comeback but in truth it’s more of a partial return to action, a stretching of the legs.
As ‘Nightrocker’ roars into action, it’s of note that – even when it rings rusty – they’re still light years ahead of the live band they used to be. And God how we’ve missed them. ‘Sexy Mistake’, ‘Gogo Don’t Go’, ‘Beach Blanket’, ‘Love Punch’ and especially ‘No Style’; has there been a better Irish canon of late?
Tonight, though, it’s only half the story as seven new songs make an appearance. There’s no particular change of direction, they’ve simply got better at being The Chalets. ‘No Brainer’ (featuring Paula on guitar) particularly raises the roof, a sign that they’ve lost none of their pop suss along the way.
Then they’re gone, back to whatever they’ve been doing for the past while, leaving us with nothing but tunes that we can’t get out of our heads and the realisation that life without The Chalets is a lot duller place.