Where’s Luke? Rip It Up At The Grand Social

Adam Weafer is a star in the making. He may be best known for his role in the TV3 serial Red Rock, but he has it as a rock ‘n’ roll performer too – in spades.

His band, Where’s Luke?, headlined what was a cracking night of musical entertainment in the Grand Social, on Friday night.

Where’s Luke? were supported here by three impressive young local acts. First up was Eafa aka musician and actress, Aoife Fitzpatrick. Experimental indie is her realm with a hint of electronica, and she uses multi-layered synths to deliver some ace dream pop. One to watch…

Proceedings kicked up a gear with Joyce. They had the crowd crooning along to spirited covers of 4 Non Blonde’s classic ‘What’s Up’ and Dua Lipa jam ‘Scared to Be Lonely.’ The group’s original ballads like ‘Shadows and Stars’ impressed too.

Nobody’s Heroes were next. They got people grooving to smooth funk rock – keep an ear out for their upcoming single ‘Counting Dates’, which was one of the highlights here. They had the joke of the night too, telling the crowd: “Guys, I have wonderful news. I found Luke!”

Where's Luke? – with Adam Hogan on lead guitar, Luke Byrne on drums, Craig Mulvagh on bass and Amy Penston on keyboards – are at another level.

Weafer has a powerful voice, one made equally for sweet emotional ballads like ‘Forever Young’ and ‘Wolves’ (a standout on the eponymous EP) and more up-tempo tracks like ‘Listen Up’. The latter is a glam rock anthem in waiting.

One-dimensional, Where’s Luke? are not. Keyboards whiz Amy Penston has just finished a seven-month stint as Natalie, in Roddy Doyle’s musical of The Commitments, and she  took vocals for a handful of the feistier rock tunes – adding a touch of real soul. Energy levels never flagged, the show culminating with the band bringing a violinist on stage for a rollicking cover of The Waterboys’ ‘Fisherman’s Blues’.

All in all it was great night, showcasing a number of highly promising Irish up-and-comers. But on their performance tonight, Where’s Luke? made a very good case for themselves as one of Ireland’s brightest newbies.