The Chapters have just completed a flying mini-tour of Berlin, playing three gigs in as many days. What I saw, on he first and last instalment, was nothing short of breathtaking, a band coming to the height of their powers.
The first show was a full-on electric set. They played all 11 tracks from their album Perfect Stranger, along with a new tune 'Theodore Interrupted' and – for the finale – an epic version of Springsteen's 'Dancing In The Dark'. Converting the entire audience, The Chapters won hearts and minds with a combination of sublime musicianship and sheer energy. The latter, frontman Ross McNally has in abundance: he delivered a non-stop, amphetamine-driven display right to the very end.
Two days later, the final gig of the mini-tour was an 'unplugged' set, in a much more intimate venue. Armed with acoustic guitars and an old piano, they opened with the tremendous 'Heart Of Glass', setting the tone. In this minimalist environment, the sheer beauty of the album's songs, the likes of 'Black Room', 'Ukrainian Gymnast' and 'Videotapes', all cut to the bare bones, was far more immediately evident. The lyrics gained heightened significance and the vocals, backed by Turlough Gunawardhana's emotive piano playing, seemed even more poignant.
They also delved into their back-catalogue with 'Katie' and 'Wyoming', the latter receiving its first ever live airing: given the response, I'm sure it won't be the last. Ending the night with the same Springsteen workout, they left the crowd's hearts hungry for more.
The Chapters are one of Ireland's finest bands. They have songs of outstanding quality, not to mention an excellent album under their belts.
So wake up everyone. The Irish public needs to get behind The Chapters. Buy their records. And support them live, before they become another great band, lost forever somewhere, under the radar.