Dave O’ Grady and Mersey Wylie at Leaf. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

If Dave O’ Grady was special before, then the added inclusion of the amazing talented vocals of Mersey Wylie adds another dimension to the man with a voice like velvet.

A favourite of the audiences at Leaf, Dave O’ Grady could play every week there and get the type of applause any resident artist garners from the appreciative crowd. With the superb vocal talent of Ms. Wylie by his side, all of a sudden there is an extra depth to the young man which in his defence no one realised was missing. More confident on stage with some one of equal passion thrusting his music further than had been done before. If you thought he was first rate before then just with this extra tweak to the outstanding music he plays he has become incredible.

One of the delights of Dave O’ Grady set is the vocal power that he brings to the audience, the dulcet Irish tones and humour do him much credit but in the end that’s only half the story. It is his unerring charm and ability to write a song of emotional quality or to perform an old much loved track by another artist and turn it into something brand new that lies at his very heart. When he gets going this Pied Piper of subtle tunes is unstoppable.

Dave and Mersey opened the set with Bones and the exquisite Tim Harding song If I were a Carpenter before surprising the crowd with a couple of new songs placed unsuspectingly within the set, the very cool Little Old Train and the temping Whisky. Both these songs were greeted as if they had been performed a hundred times before. One of the really special songs of any gig given by the musician is his re-working of the Beastie Boys hit, (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party). This song, which was a classic of its time, takes on a different meaning when Dave sings it. It certainly gives an edge and a more seductive appeal to a disaffected youth.

Mersey Wylie matched Dave note for note, passion for passion on every song and there were many distinctive moments on stage when it was possible to see that this young woman is going to enjoy a great future.

Other songs that the pair played on the night included The Old Church Road, Dirty Little Secret and the outstanding My Oldest Friend.

Dave O’ Grady leaves his adopted home of Liverpool soon for his second European tour of the year. The tour sees Mr. O’ Grady visit some of Western Europe’s finest cities including Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona, however there is no finer way to kick it off than by saying a fond farewell to the audience inside Leaf on Bold Street and knowing that no matter what they will welcome him as a returning hero when he makes his way back home.

Ian D. Hall