DERMOT KENNEDY // USHER HALL, EDINBURGH
Dermot Kennedy returns to Scotland’s Capital for a Sold-Out show at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
DERMOT KENNEDY PERFORMING AT EDINBURGH’S USHER HALL - 16.12.2019
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★☆ (4/5)
I will be honest, aside from the song Outnumbered which I’d heard on the radio a few times I wasn’t familiar with Dermot Kennedy before I went to this gig. It was nice to go along with an open mind to see what I genuinely thought of his performance.
Anyone who has been there will know what a lovely venue the Usher Hall is, especially for singer songwriters, some of the acts I’d see there previously included Ray La Montaigne and Mary Chapin Carpenter so Mr Kennedy had a lot to live up to.
His support act, Lilla Vargen, came across as a really nice person with an honesty and emotional rawness to her performance. It didn’t all quite work for me simply because I felt a few times she stretched herself to points where she she wasn’t able to go but, when she concentrated on her best assets, her voice and her quieter, more impactful, songs she was very impressive. There is something to her that, if it goes in the right direction, could see her becoming successful. I enjoyed it and wouldn’t mind seeing her again.
Dermot Kennedy strode out onto the stage and, in my opinion, took a risk right from the off, opening with some quieter songs, not the usual barnstormers people open with to get the audience on their side. It made no difference, the audience loved him from the off. As for me, I was very impressed, the man can sing and has tremendous stage presence! Add in some excellent songs and Dermot Kennedy is the whole package (I think it’s fair to say he’s also quite easy on the eye if his legion of female fans in the venue are to be believed).
Quite early on in this show he engaged the audience and by the end of this show he had them hanging on his every word, happily singing along and clearly having a great time. The only jarring note for me was the behaviour of some people near me who clearly had come to get drunk and didn’t care who they annoyed but the Usher Hall staff handled it very well, it’s not often I praise venue staff but they were very impressive. Thankfully the idiots concerned disappeared during the gig.
There have been a few singer songwriters appearing over the last few years when it had looked like the genre might be dying out. I think it’s fair to call Dermot a real contender for the top echelons of the genre. He has the voice and the songs, given the right exposure he could break big.
There is a rawness and emotion to his voice which is highly engaging, his band were tight behind him and throughout this concert he was totally on top of his game, I thoroughly enjoyed this gig.
For a man I hadn’t seen before and only heard one song from I am now a fan. He will be touring again in 2020, do yourself a favour and go see him!
SETLIST: | DERMOT KENNEDY : USHER HALL, EDINBURGH - 16.12.2019
An Evening I Will Not Forget
Lost
All My Friends
What Have I Done
Moments Passed
The Corner
Rome
Couldn’t Tell
Outnumbered
For Island Fires and Family
Glory
Without Fear
Redemption
Happy Birthday to You - (Mildred J. Hill cover) - (sung to Dermot by Crowd on his Birthday)
Power Over Me
After Rain