A Lazarus Soul at Vicar Street (Photos)

Less than six months on from their first sold-out headliner at Vicar Street A Lazarus Soul made a triumphant return to the packed venue with even more vigour and spark. The career spanning set showcased the lyrical skill, humour and musicality with which tales of friendship and love vs. community collapse, drug addiction, domestic abuse and institutional neglect were delivered. With pin-drop moments leading to rousing choruses (Black & Amber, Lemon 7’s, Long Balconies, The Traders) the four-piece upped the ante as prickly post- punk (The Flower I Flung Into Her Grave, Glass Swans, GIM) gave way to the hypnotic dub inspired ’We Start Fires’ and Ghetto Blaster’ via the rousing chaos of Jesus & Mary Chain’s ‘Reverence’ - a masterclass in performance and glimpse into a rich back catalogue that gets better with each release. Special guest for the night was fellow Choice Music Prize nominee Niamh Regan whose acoustic performance perfectly set the tone for the evening.