The glass is always half full rather than half empty as far as The Frank and Walters are concerned. Their optimism and self belief were a delight to behold in Dublin's Olympia Theatre, where they played their socks off in front of a very small but enthusiastic crowd.
It was difficult at times to keep up with the frantic pace they set from the start. Barely pausing to draw breath between songs, they had the audience captivated throughout the performance. It was a real treat to experience their positive attitude at first hand.
Kicking off with Talking About You, possibly the best song from their new album, the show built up to a spectacular climax with their penultimate song, Time We Said Goodnight. New York had Sarah De Courcy revealing her angelic voice, more of which we will hopefully hear of in the future. Other highlights included Fashion Crisis Hits New York, Underground and Plenty Times.
Paul Linehan's clear and distinctive vocals were enthralling. Too many bands make the mistake of allowing their instruments to smother the lead singer's voice; The Frank and Walters, however, have found the perfect balance. "Are ye warmed up yet?" enquired Paul in his broad Cork accent, half way through the set. We assumed that this was a rhetorical question. Ashley Keating is quite a percussionist. It was pure joy to watch him in action. His work rate was intense and he left a ringing in my ears long after the show had ended. Niall Linehan on lead gutar was pulsating yet quite unassuming.
I can't quite comprehend why The Frank and Walters haven't yet achieved fame or fortune. They have vast reserves of talent and charisma and are immensely passionate about their music. Hopefully Glass will see them reach a wider audience and bring them the recognition that they thoroughly deserve.
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