Having dropped the ‘Nelson’ from the name, but gained considerable momentum, Cork/ Skibbereen alliance THE MANDOLAS are one of the most promising new outfits on the Irish circuit at present.
They launched their debut, five-track EP ‘My Greatest Day’ with some well-received shows at Cork’s Cyprus Avenue and W&H’s local, De Barra’s in Clonakilty, West Cork. This latter proved to be a memorable night out. Able support was provided courtesy of an acoustic set from John Blek & Anna Mitchell and The Mandolas turned in a superb and beautifully-paced set.
The band’s self-released EP featured strongly on the night. Garnished with accomplished, four-way harmonies, the five tracks are threaded through with the kind of everyman themes (love, friendship and humanity) that should be celebrated more than ever in these economically-challenging times.
Sung by mandolin player Paddy Kelly, the rousing ‘Raise A Glass’ recalled folk-rock pioneers such as the Dransfields or Fairport Convention circa ‘Unhalfbricking’ and incorporated a terrific little a capella bit towards the end. ‘All In Time’ and ‘The Way These Things Do’, meanwhile, demonstrated The Mandolas’ inherent pop sensibilities. Sung primarily by multi-instrumentalist Michael Grace, ‘All In Time’ featured harmonies that Badfinger would once have been happy to put their name to, while guitarist/violinist Colm Hayes’ catchy two-step ‘The Way These Things Do’ looked on the bright side, its’ uplifting lyrics of acceptance and natural evolution (“out with the old and in with the new”) also making room for a killer whistling solo.
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Mandola player Dorian Kelly weighed in with the touching’ n’ tender ‘Amber Flame’ with the harmonies again sighing in wonderfully behind him, while ‘My Greatest Day’ (also sung by Michael Grace) tingled with the kind of emotive, anthemic qualities that can’t fail to melt hearts in large numbers in the future.
While The Mandolas were rightly keen to showcase the EP, there’s a whole lot more where those five came from. Their current set also includes key future staples such as the roving ‘Ballad of Alan James’, the mystical, Eastern-influenced ‘Ally’s Garden’ (The Mandolas’ very own ‘Battle of Evermore’, anyone?) and the show-stoppingly ethereal ‘Be You.’
Even without the additional instrumentation (subtle bass, drums, accordion and percussion) making its presence felt on the EP, The Mandolas are a fierce, fabulous live band and their string-driven thing is something no self-respecting music head with even vaguely catholic tastes ought to miss.
The Mandolas online
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