David C Clements with support from Feet For Wings, Hannah McPhillimy, Jamie Neish & Craig McConkey
26th September 2013
I don’t quite see the point in Arthur’s Day other than a big money making scheme. However I am more than willing to look past it for free music once in a while. On the 26th September, while rumours spread of 2 Biffy Clyro gigs across the city, I cosied up in Whites to see a fantastic line-up provided by none other than Forfey.
The night started early with Craig McConkey who launched his debut EP ‘These Hills They Breathe’ only recently and has since been a great fixture on the gig circuit in Belfast. Tonight he is accompanied Silhouette’s Connor Burnside and The Emerald Armada’s Gary Lynas. Craig kicks into his set with a couple of non EP tracks however for me the highlights of his set have to be his 3 EP tracks ‘Rule the Land’, ’10 Menthol’ and ‘Deaf Like me’ with his new material showing a lot of potential for the (Hopefully near) future. His quirky voice accompanied by great material providing the perfect start to Arthur’s Day.
I have only really heard Jamie Neish’s solo music from a distance before and If I’m honest I haven’t really heard More than Conqueror’s material either so tonight was my first exposure to this man! Accompanied by only a guitar, the power and range of his voice shines through showing that he does not need a band but already has a full rounded sound! I’m looking forward to hearing much more of Mr Neish in future.
Next up is Hannah McPhillimy. Tonight she has stripped back her setup from her usual band to be accompanied by just a piano and drum kit however her own songs come through just as strongly with a piano version of ‘Homecoming’ being the highlight of her set.
Feet for Wings were a strong contender for our Kickstart competition and with a great live performance it is understandable why they have gained such a following including myself. This will be their last performance until Christmas as each member heads back to their respective universities. Therefore the boys relish the opportunity to showcase new material from EP ‘Homes’, the title track of this along with ‘Rose before Bloom’ and ‘Cutting my Teeth’ were highlights for me from their set.
This evening’s headliner David C Clements has recently taken time out to focus on new music with a new album hopefully expected next year. He approaches the microphone with a coolness only a few possess. “Happy Arthur’s day folks” he states before bursting into the first song accompanied by his band. It irritates me that no more than 30 people are in Whites tavern tonight to hear a singer songwriter who could be (In my opinion) justifiably compared to the likes of Foy Vance and even bigger names like Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan. However the audience is captured by his stage incredible vocal ability as well as the honesty and emotion by which he sings His set contains a mixture of old and new songs with New song ‘My Dear Mother’ and older songs ‘On the Border’, ‘Flow River Flow’ and ‘Oh Child’ being highlights for me. As a fan I hope that big things lie ahead for David C Clements.
(I am aware that this sounds like a man crush…. You should have seen the first draft, I am not affiliated with David C Clements. There are other singer songwriters available.)
