The Leftovers

(Isoldes Tower, Dublin)

GROUPS of tourists were finishing their meals when the Leftovers started to play. The unsympathetic lay out meant only the barman could see more than half the band, but on the first of three Guinness Blues Festival nights in Isoldes Tower, it didn’t matter a bit. The eight piece coming out of the Blues Club in JJ Smyths (they play there Fridays) provided a fine set of mostly Chicago Blues.

The admirably tight group showed some impressive solos skills, notably on Albert Collins’ ‘Love Me Like A Saint’, but no one person dominated. Tommy Grimes’ vocals led through T Bone Walker and BB King classics with style ,and the depth of talent involved was shown when guitarist Kevin Sheehan and drummer Chris Hynes both ably took on vocals for a song.

As darkness fell, the solid pumping of Kieran Broughan’s bass got the walls sweating and guitarist Graham Hynes started to open up.

The Leftovers are at their best when the brass section of Claire Stephens, Carl O’Byrne and Neil Gannon really kick in, as they did on a raucous rendition of the Bar Keys ‘Last Night’.

By the time they finished, the place had filled up to the brim, the tourists were jumping up and down and even the barstaff started to smile. My mother was right, when you’re hungry Leftovers can be a banquet.

• Simon Basketter