Brian Deady & Band
City Limits/Sky Club, Cork
Saturday 27th Sept.
While his solo single “Any ‘Ol Ting” (album – “Interview” – originally due for release this autumn, now not out until beginning of next year) has been getting mixed reviews from the love to the hate, Brian Deady has spent the last few months building a live band. This does not mean to say that he’s leaving his solo, human-beatbox roots behind - far from it. In his own words, he’s a “solo artist who’s expanding”.
“Right now I still see myself as a solo artist - who collaborates. I'm writing more material for the ever-developing live set and its great bouncing what ideas I have off the band and seeing how they interpret it.”
This band is a mutating thing, it seems, as, after only three performances, the line-up is already on the move, with one of the backing singers already being removed. (Removed? Replaced? Why? Who knows?)
When I caught them in City Limits on Saturday 27th last, there were seven on stage – Brian Deady on lead vocals with bass, guitar, drums, keyboard and backing vocals packed in around. The calibre of musician he’s gathering together is high – if I mention the name Niwel Tsumbu and you don’t know of whom I speak, you need to get out more.
A personal word on the venue – when I first started going to City Limits/Sky Bar, it was a small-ish nightclub with a flashing floor à la ‘Billy Jean’. It has mutated and/or expanded so many times over the years that it’s hard to keep track, but I find it a strange venue (personally, mind) for this very reason as, every time I walk in the door, I am expecting the original layout and so it always seems alien, ephemeral and not quite real to me. (Hell, maybe I should get out more!)
His influences are varied. “I've been listening groups like The Brothers Johnson and Heatwave and steely Dan - I love how strong they are vocally - The Cinematic Orchestra (as of this morning) and a hip hop artist named Jay Electronica. This stuff for me defies the timeline - it doesn’t matter if it’s old or new - if you connect with it then it’s the right music for you.”
I suppose I should mention the gig itself at some point. Well, my first impression was ‘Wow! – my new favourite live band.’ Mind you, this was modified slightly as the gig wore on – mainly due to the slower numbers, which, frankly, dragged. But the faster, upbeat tracks rocked. It’s real dance music. Mr Deady sounds like Sam Sparrow crossed with Michael Franti (to my ears) with a lot of soul/funk thrown in. Seriously, guys – stick with the more up-tempo for the moment. Lose the slow numbers – especially if you’ve just berated (yes, berated, and by more than one of you) the audience for not dancing, why then have your very next song a slow number? Does that make sense to anyone? As a whole, though, the production was slick, tight and with up to four singers at any one time, the harmonies and backing were well-worked and very professional, which is all the more impressive when you consider that the line-up for this gig was still being put together up until very recently.
The Brian Deady live experience has no definite name as yet – rumours of names such as “The International Takeover” as just that and “BD & Band” doesn’t quite cut it according to the man himself, and so it’s best for the moment to just keep your eyes peeled for ‘Brian Deady’ on the play list for festivals & gigs at home and abroad.
A new single ‘Sun Up’ should be out in the next few weeks but, in the meantime, you can check out the video for “Any 'Ol Ting”, which was directed by Brian Connolly, and, incidentally, I am reliably informed, has been selected for 'Made in Cork 'section of the Cork Film Fest this year. www.myspace.com/briandeadyfutureretro
