Cathedral Quarters Arts Festival
Soak & Lisa O’Neill
Black Box, Belfast
1st May 2014
Lisa O’Neill takes to the stage saying she needs to warm up her voice, and what ensues is an a cappella that brings you face to face with her strange and expressive voice.
Guitarist & violinist in tow, the Cavan singer then begins to take us through her album ‘Same Cloth Or Not’ which was released last year. The violin’s lament in ‘England Has My Man’ tells a story all too common to those from rural Ireland, before Lisa seems to sneer with intent at the mic through ‘Come Sit Sing’.
Her small stature on stage is in contrast to her arresting presence, between her sublime storytelling and battering beats with her brogues, it’s impossible to feel indifferent. Her whole body brings the melody, with arms flailing and face twisting with every emotion – leaving the crowd hanging on her every move.
The live renditions aren’t too far removed from the album, a little stripped back and rougher round the edges, but the simple arrangements allow the audience to focus on what’s the root of O’Neills songs; the words and her voice. This is an artist that can be jarring at first, but if you’re lucky enough to click with the songs, Lisa O’Neill is an artist who can rekindle a love for the storytelling folk songwriter.
Tonight (well, midnight) is Soak’s eighteenth birthday and it feels a little special that she’s spending it here with us in the Black Box. Beginning her set with ‘Explosion’, it says a lot about where she is in her career that we hear the clicks of numerous photographers trying to get their shot during the first track.
The endless touring Bridie has done in the last year or so only seems to have helped her voice, sounding crisp, clear, controlled and stunning among her mellow guitar tone. A cover of Bonnie Raitt’s, ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ works fine as a rather reserved singalong, but only makes us want more of her own songs.
A number of new tunes make the set, including a song called ‘Reckless Behaviour’ which apparently was inspired by being so young on tour. The song’s got a catchy repeated pop hook that we remember from a previous gig – a good sign! This is then quickly followed by another new song called, ‘Being Nobody’ which is a bit different and definitely shows a development in her song writing into something a bit darker and moodier. Again, she demonstrates a knack for putting the personal into lyrics without sounding contrived.
The new songs excite us, but the songs we all know are up next and really show the diverse catalogue Soak is building up. From her current single ‘Blud’ to “a song from my youth” called, ‘Trains’, Bridie’s clearly changing and growing as a songwriter in the best possible way.
Soak & Lisa O’Neill
Black Box, Belfast
1st May 2014
Lisa O’Neill takes to the stage saying she needs to warm up her voice, and what ensues is an a cappella that brings you face to face with her strange and expressive voice.
Guitarist & violinist in tow, the Cavan singer then begins to take us through her album ‘Same Cloth Or Not’ which was released last year. The violin’s lament in ‘England Has My Man’ tells a story all too common to those from rural Ireland, before Lisa seems to sneer with intent at the mic through ‘Come Sit Sing’.
Her small stature on stage is in contrast to her arresting presence, between her sublime storytelling and battering beats with her brogues, it’s impossible to feel indifferent. Her whole body brings the melody, with arms flailing and face twisting with every emotion – leaving the crowd hanging on her every move.
The live renditions aren’t too far removed from the album, a little stripped back and rougher round the edges, but the simple arrangements allow the audience to focus on what’s the root of O’Neills songs; the words and her voice. This is an artist that can be jarring at first, but if you’re lucky enough to click with the songs, Lisa O’Neill is an artist who can rekindle a love for the storytelling folk songwriter.
Tonight (well, midnight) is Soak’s eighteenth birthday and it feels a little special that she’s spending it here with us in the Black Box. Beginning her set with ‘Explosion’, it says a lot about where she is in her career that we hear the clicks of numerous photographers trying to get their shot during the first track.
The endless touring Bridie has done in the last year or so only seems to have helped her voice, sounding crisp, clear, controlled and stunning among her mellow guitar tone. A cover of Bonnie Raitt’s, ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ works fine as a rather reserved singalong, but only makes us want more of her own songs.
A number of new tunes make the set, including a song called ‘Reckless Behaviour’ which apparently was inspired by being so young on tour. The song’s got a catchy repeated pop hook that we remember from a previous gig – a good sign! This is then quickly followed by another new song called, ‘Being Nobody’ which is a bit different and definitely shows a development in her song writing into something a bit darker and moodier. Again, she demonstrates a knack for putting the personal into lyrics without sounding contrived.
The new songs excite us, but the songs we all know are up next and really show the diverse catalogue Soak is building up. From her current single ‘Blud’ to “a song from my youth” called, ‘Trains’, Bridie’s clearly changing and growing as a songwriter in the best possible way.
Having looked a bit lacklustre at the start of this evening, she’s engaging and enjoying the banter with the crowd towards the end, even if she shrinks with embarrassment as the crowd sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her before her encore, ‘Snow’.
Overall, the appreciative and attentive audience were instrumental in a great night, setting a tone for reflective and honest story telling by two very different, but both wonderful singer-songwriters.
Amy McGarrigle
