Review: The Mary Wallopers live from Leeds O2 Academy
Dundalk folk rock group - The Mary Wallopers, stopped in Leeds on their Paddy Whackery tour for an evening of song, dance and crowd surfing.
It was a poignant gig which addressed annoyance at the political powers in the world, whilst making sure everyone was having good craic in the midst of it all.
Despite the band being cold-ridden and feeling under the weather, and accordion player - Catriona Ní Ghribín seated due to a stairwell injury prior to the gig - they delivered an energetic performance.
Inevitably, the Yorkshire audience matched their stamina, and were singing from the top of their lungs in the standing and balcony.
One of the lead vocalists, Charles Hendy, said: “We love performing in Leeds, yous give Dundalk energy!”
The tour is in connection to their latest album ‘Paddywhackery’, which was released in September this year. They performed the album in its entirety throughout the set, alongside some traditional covers, and other belters from their discography.
Their set opened with ‘Castlecoe Hill’, an instrumental which doesn't half pack a punch and make you want to launch into a jig, before transitioning into their single ‘Crowns of England’.
The Hendy brothers - Charles and Andrew, jokingly addressed the crowd in saying they’re working through their setlist like a hitlist, performing songs addressing landlord greed, millionaires, Catholicism corruption, and the inequalities of the British Empire.
A particular standout live from the new 11 tracks was ‘The Big Mixer’. It had that classic Irish traditional feel with a rockier, flute infused delivery. A skill the sextet have accomplished well, as I’m sure it will have a place on the setlist in years to come.
The staging varied throughout the evening, reflective of the delivery of certain songs. The brothers took turns performing solo songs such as ‘Gates of Heaven’ and ‘Building Up and Tearing England Down’ with the bodhrán - a traditional single-headed frame drum with a double-ended stick. The mixture of full band to solo made for a powerful, touching performance, which only elevated further with the audience participation, almost like an alternative rock and roll based mass!
The mosh pit truly opened during track ‘Eileen Óg’. There was a sea of chanting bouncing heads, amongst purple lighting, before the beat drop of the first chorus.
Likewise, on ‘Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice’, a dozen-odd of the attendees crowd surfed to the barricade. This was met with grins galore from the group, as Charles expressed “That’s the f**king spirit!” before continuing the tune.
The tour also paid homage to Irish musicians that have come before, not just in their covers, but in the pre and post show playlist, which kept attendees singing long after the band’s departure from the Leeds stage.
The band had support from Cork-formed band - Cliffords, who were definitely worth coming down early to hear. Fronted by Iona Lynch, they were a lively shoegaze-infused guitar group with effortless stage presence.
The Mary Wallopers are still on the road, calling at Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Dublin. Having watched them multiple times over the years, you are never in doubt that you’re in for an atmospheric, enjoyable evening of tunes.
Further album and tour information can be found here.
Setlist:
Castlecoe Hill
Crowns of England
Landlord’s Demise
Seán na Sagart
Smuggling the Tin
Rich Man and the Poor Man
Worker’s Song
The Big Mixer
KitKat Club
Mickey Dam
Building Up and Tearing England Down
The Holy Ground
The Blarney Stone
Eileen Óg
Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice
The Juice
Gates of Heaven
Banks of the Roses
All for Me Grog
Frost is All Over
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