The nature of Irish music is changing. A strange thing to say no doubt, especially in a review for an artist hailing from Eastbourne in Sussex, but David Ford’s epic performance to a startled audience in a packed out Auntie Annie’s would have convinced you more than this review ever will. In fact if I could give you any advice it would be to seek out testimony from those who were lucky enough to attend, for them it will be hard to beat this gig in the city this year.
For anyone not well versed in the encyclopaedia of the UKs up and coming singer-songwriters; David Ford is an Irish based multi-instrumentalist with a sound somewhere in between Duke Special and Damien Rice. Which is convenient since Duke Special reared his mop of trailing dreads onto the stage for an accompaniment on the exquisitely named “Cheer Up, You Miserable F*ck” midway through the performance. An appropriate choice given criticisms both of Mr Special’s music and the general popular misconception of the genre today.
It is in changing this misconception that Irish musicians have really begun to make strides and David Ford is another giant, bounding leap in the right direction. The trick is in the performance. Songs of disarming, sombre beauty experienced personally at home are passionately exploded into being in real life. Ford opened with “State of the Union”, one of his signature creations, looping each instrument (at least 10 tracks in all) from the record himself into a vocal soup that brought the house down. A lesson in organisation and technical ability having already accepted his musical pedigree.
This is the pedigree that sells out venues across Ireland and an already underway US tour. One wonders how Americans will react to an irreverent bowler-hat sporting singer playing a hat-stand cum percussion instrument at the top of his voice. If the results resemble this performance in spirit at least, then a whole new continent will fall in love with the man and the music he envoys so well. He may not be Irish by birth, but his music warrants nationality by proxy and we are in fine company indeed.
Words by Jonny Milliken
BUY:
I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I’ve Caused
BROWSE:
David Ford Official Website
(Editor’s Tip: download the majestic ‘Go To Hell’ free from David’s website)
4 responses so far ↓
Donal // February 13, 2008 at 9:17 am
Good review, I missed him when he played in Cork recently but hopefully he’ll be doing the rounds again, especially as we have adopted him!
Chris SparksFly // February 13, 2008 at 1:49 pm
“The nature of Irish music is changing” A strange thing to say in a review of an acoustic singer songwriter given that Ireland is mainly known for it’s acoustic folk!
Jonny // February 13, 2008 at 5:37 pm
That was the point Chris. He comes from a very historic musical background but the nature of this Irish folk is changing. Its becoming more raw and performance orientated with a lot more complexity in the sound.
Chris SparksFly // February 14, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Forsooth, I stand corrected *bows*