The Klares, The Grand Social, Dublin
- Written by Marky Edison
When we last saw The Klares they were playing an all ages gig with Blood or Whiskey last summer in Fibbers .Tonight they are headlining The Grand Social. It’s great experience for the schoolboy band who have noticeably grown up in the past year. Tonight’s gig is more about showcasing their ability and gaining experience than anything else.
The set draws from their two EPs, 2013’s Dirty Birds and last year’s Cookoo. They have added to their set too, with upcoming single ‘Sparks Alone’ and the new song ‘Black Huarache’.
They have managed to draw over a hundred people to the show on a Monday night which is nothing to be sneezed at. And the fanbase that they have established is young, well dressed and rabid. They sing back every word of the old songs and even know the new stuff before it has been released. The Arctic Monkeys influence is still strong but The Klares are beginning to find their own rhythm and their own voice. Singer and frontman, Andy Burke in particular, has grown in confidence and presence. His voice is stronger and he throws himself about between verses, picking out individual members of the audience to sing to.
The music is characterised by the single note riffing and rapid downstrokes of early Arctic Monkeys and Libertines. It’s a high energy performance and there's a casualty in the pit during the first song. It’s a rare outlet for the young rockers of Dublin and they are making the most of it. The occasional pit opens up and there’s some friendly slamming going on. New song, ‘Sparks alone’ inspires some jiving on the dancefloor. The new material proves they know when to hold back as well as how to floor it. Instruments drop out of the mix here and there, and the song breaks down in the middle before bursting back to life with a massive final chorus.
The sound mix is spot on as usual in this venue and The Klares close out with the now traditional closer, a version of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Chile’ with a low end Noel Redding would be envious of.
The boys finish school this summer and have managed to get their parents approval to pursue music full-time. That is probably a greater achievement than anything they have done so far. We’ve been promised new material and some big shows after their exams. Watch this space.