Nicole Maguire
Cyprus Avenue, Cork
August 1st, 2008
Picture it, a floating mass of dark spiral curls, a girl and a guitar, centre stage with a small spare collection of the bare essentials – bass, electric guitar, percussion. The audience is small but appreciative. It is tough getting an audience in Cork sometimes – talking to those in the gigging business, there’s either too much on any one evening or it’s holiday season and everyone’s at the big summer festivals/gigs. Still, a small group of dedicated, interested fans makes for a better night all round than a large number of half-interested, half-chatting punters out for a drink and some background music (though I’m not sure that those who are relying on the bar take would agree).
The personable Ms Maguire was relaxed and chatty, thanking the audience for coming along and wondering that they weren’t somewhere getting a tan instead of staying here in the rain. Dangerous question, really – you might get the audience agreeing.
The sound produced by this small band was rich, layered and full and Ms Maguire’s vocals strong and clear. Well, it was as long as the band wasn’t full force around her. From where I was standing, back a bit and centre stage, whenever the band joined in in toto, the vocals were kind of to almost lost, which was disappointing. This doesn’t appear to be the case with her studio recordings so I can only put it down to the night in hand. However, the sound was good and, with the ever versatile Mr Chris Percival rocking out stage left, it left you with a very good taste in you mouth.
Ms Maguire is a gentle girl with a powerful voice which did not get the outing it deserved last night. It is unforced and easy on the ear. According to Chris Percival (guitar), she has the voice to go with the songs and the songs to go with the voice. In other words, she’s a mean songwriter and one heck of a singer. And I have to admit, I agree. The sound overall brings to mind for me a more rocked up version of All About Eve. You may not agree.
For aficionados of Ms Maguire, the well-stocked set list for the gig included ‘It’s a little strange’, ‘Lipstick Girl’, ‘I’m gonna be’ and ‘When the coast is clear’ (to which you can listen for yourself on her myspace (nicolemaguireireland) or .com sites.) She has also got dates lined up for the next two and a half months up and don the country so you can catch her live as and when.
The Nicole Maguire Band:
Nicole Maguire(vocals, electric & acoustic guitar)/Ciaran Manning (percussion)/Chris Percival (electric & acoustic guitar)/Jason Brown (Bass)
