My first time at the Iveagh Gardens for a show was around 2013, to see Bell X1. At that time, at the age of 15, it seemed like nature had built its own colosseum – the sunken arena, the trees hanging over every corner. On Friday, those iconic grounds played host to The Waterboys.

David Kitt opened. He joked, “A lot of you probably thought I broke up with myself twenty years ago – I’ve released eleven records since…” His set was dominated by tracks from his latest release Idiot Check, accompanied by keys, saxophone and a backing vocalist, alongside his own delicate guitar playing.

I was surprised by the mixed crowd. A good 50% were between the ages of 45 and 60, as you’d expect with a band of this era, but there’s an appreciation for The Waterboys' music that extends beyond a generation. They are a band for music fans, for people that appreciate the art of songwriting. Groups of people in their 20s were scattered around the arena. I spotted members from up and coming bands Last Apollo and Binmen; Billy McGuinness of Aslan over to my left; and up the front was Waterboys fanatic and frontman of The War on Drugs, Adam Granduciel.

My second gig ever, as a twelve-year old, was to see The Waterboys, live at the Tall Ships Festival in Waterford in 2010. My dad brought me to see them, having spoon-fed me a healthy diet of '80s and '90s Irish rock throughout my childhood. It felt right to be at this show with him.

The Waterboys at Iveagh Gardens on July 13th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ Hotpress.com

The Waterboys exploded onto the stage with ‘Where The Action Is’. Mike Scott, ever the rock star with his stetson and denim flares, and Brother Paul Brown going full glam-rock, were joined by piano, bass and drums. Launching into ‘Glastonbury Song’, there was no waiting around. By the time the opening strums of ‘How Long Will I Love You’ rang out, even the guitar tech side stage was throwing his hands into the air in a sort of spiritual celebration. ‘Ladbroke Grove Symphony’ and ‘A Girl Called Johnny’ inspired keytar – or as Mike Scott called it, “that white thing” – solos from Brother Paul.

The moment of the night was ‘This Is The Sea’. Mike Scott, acoustic guitar in hand, floating above the crowd. It was Van Morrison-esque. The piano beautifully debating every statement argued by Scott throughout. It felt only fitting that it was followed by Yeats poems – ‘The Lake Isle of Inishfree’ and ‘September 1913’ punctuated the impact on the audience. That triad of a moment cast a spell,  and we were coaxed into ‘The Pan Within’ with a teaser of Patti Smith’s ‘Because the Night’.

The Waterboys at Iveagh Gardens on July 13th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ Hotpress.com

When Scott launched into ‘Strange Boat’ I looked towards Adam Granduciel. He had covered it only two weeks ago at the Trinity Series with The War on Drugs. The place, thereafter, proceeded to hop and leap as The Waterboys blasted out ‘Fisherman’s Blues’ – a much better version than I’ve ever attempted at a Wednesday night jam session, unsurprisingly.

No stopping until the encore – ‘My Wanderings in a Weary Land’, ‘Medicine Bow’, ‘Be My Enemy’, ‘Long Strange Golden Road’. The cover of Modern Blues hung from the back of the stage.

“Do you know any of this new stuff, John?” asks Tony from Sallypark who used to play ball with my father 20 years ago – a chance meeting.

“Of course I do,” replies my father. I was so fortunate to be raised with such an appreciation for good songwriting.

Emerging for the encore, Tony was kept satisfied with ‘A Bang on the Ear’ and Scott took up position behind a keyboard for ‘The Whole of the Moon’.

Something for everyone – the hit seekers, the musos, the poets, the dancers. Whatever music means to you, The Waterboys know how to give it to you.