There is so much talent in Dublin and, while certain bloated, big-mouthed rock stars were causing box-office telephone lines to jam, the more discerning audience was drawn last night to wards two of the city's very brightest bands.
First, The Brilliant Trees who, along with Bawl are in the vanguard of a generation of guitar bands with accomplished albums behind them.
They revel in a sort of jingly-jangly pop which is vaguely indebted to Johnny Marr and have a beautifully doleful quality to their music. More importantly, they have something to say, and their chiming and charming set spoke volumes.
And then the effervescent Sack, a much more muscular affair altogether. At times they seem the rightful heirs to A House, with their laconic observations, pithy lyrics and songs driven by mixtures of strange dischords.
Occasionally, as in the magnificent A Sunny Day, they are full of Morrisseyesque inflections, launching into Southpaw Gram mar style show-stoppers. Always they ooze class.
Vigorous and witty and with the ability to make music which soars to quite unexpected heights, they are among the very finest bands making music in Ireland today.
