Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 21st 2012.
Dave O’Grady has had a busy year already in music terms and by being one of the support acts for Only Child’s E.P. launch at Leaf on Bold Street he managed to inspire and show a new audience what exactly the fuss is about his playing ability and incredible charm.
On stage he weaves a musical composition as if he were Faustus or the Pied Piper of Hamelin playing his music for his loyal followers, it is quite an astonishing feat for example to turn The Beastie Boys hit (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party), possibly one of the most iconic songs of the 1980’s and symbolic of American youth disaffection, into something rather beautiful and laconic.
Dave opened up his section of the night with I Don’t Want To Love You and the excellent If I Were A Carpenter. Both these songs were played in stunning style and it’s hard to believe that such empathetic and gentle songs can be played by just one man and a guitar.
Whichever way you look at it with Dave O’ Grady, it all boils down to what makes him great. It has to be said that there is something about Dave’s voice that has feel and memory of the late and much missed Phil Lynott. He may not have the sometimes abrasive humour of the likeable and talented frontman of Thin Lizzy but what he possesses is an expression, a vocal sound that declares itself onto those that listen to him. It is mesmerising in the similar vein that his country man imposed himself onto his audiences. It is magical and just that little exciting to have the type of musical memory being reminded in someone so young.
With a sly but playful dig at the audience, Dave proceeded to play the imaginative Dirty Little Secret and the lovely Bones before finishing his much too brief set with a wonderful homage to his mum in the song My Oldest Friend.
As support acts go, Dave O’ Grady is one of the finest in the city of Liverpool and it surely can’t be too long before he gets the much deserved centre stage to showcase his music.
Ian D. Hall