THE 'NIGHTY STEF
The Mighty Stef + Howlin' Dowlin + Cheap Freaks @ Crawdaddy - February 14, 2009
Playing to an adoring home crowd on Valentine's Day, tonight sees the official launch of "100 Midnights" - the second full-length record by The Mighty Stef, the heavyweight champion of the Dublin music underworld - before Stef sets sail (or more likely, boards a plane) for an expansive US tour with his band of men. One of whom fronts Howlin' Dowlin, the second of tonight's two local support bands, who also feature one of Cheap Freaks, tonight's opening act... while moonlighting as the rest of Stef's band are three from The Last Tycoons.
The incestuous Irish music scene is alive and kicking on this Valentine's feast - enough for Stef to joke that while the rest are busy rehearsing and playing with their various bands, he does be at home, looking in the mirror, telling himself, "I'm gonna BE somebody!" I catch the last couple of songs by Cheap Freaks, their raucous sound and energy creating an electric atmosphere in the venue. Applauded off as if headliners, it's the debut show from a band who are largely made up of members of The Things, no strangers to topping the bill in here themselves. With short time in between to grab a breath of unfresh Dublin air, yet more familiar faces, collectively known as Howlin' Dowlin, take the stage. Playing together since late last year, their more melodic but still guitar-led sound shows enough promise to say this town is big enough for another rock & roll band, and none of us is gonna have to leave. Except for The Mighty Stef, that is, but of course, not before playing here tonight. The sins of St. Valentine's still await.
It's not long after ten as the main act humorously kick off with "The Days Of Wine And Roses" from Stef's first album, "The Sins Of Sainte Catherine". Romantic Ireland may be dead and gone (and with 2Pac in the grave) but the loose Valentine theme continues throughout with songs old and new, including "I Love You" (played second), "Hound Dogs Of Love" and the equally loved up "Dignity Tonight". All the while lively, other than the more-morose-than-red-rose "Come Over To The Darkside" which does exactly what it says on the tin and threatens to kill the mood. Not before "Downtown" - the anthemic lead song from the new album, and the rockabilly blast of "Golden Gloves" get a workout. Former Pogues member Cait O'Riordan, too, is on hand to reprise the duet of "Safe At Home" (also from "100 Midnights") as she leaves her spot in the crowd and enters the stage as if stepping into the ring for a title fight, as she vocally spars with Stef on a tale of a fraught mother/son relationship, and jumps around a bit in between.
The Pogues-esque stomp of "Nelligan's Guts" is left to pick up the pace after "Come Over To The Darkside" and before long, Stef unexpectedly breaks into the old Crystals hit "Then He Kissed Me" after announcing time for one last song, only to cut off to his own "Poisonous Love" after just a couple of verses, for the usual big singalong ending. With calls for more, Stef risks the ire of venue management to bang out one last big number in the shape of an acoustic "Death Threats" with little else to help (or needed for) that mighty voice.
by Old Git 11.3.09
