Homeward Bound

On a rain soaked Thursday night while the wind bent the trees outside, a delighted audience in The Riverbank welcomed home one of their own.  There was an air of excitement and expectation in the cosy candle-lit room as Declan Sinnott and Vicky Keating took to the stage. Declan is one of the most unassuming  of men -  mild mannered, softly spoken, casually dressed and the complete antithesis of his more “infamous” brother, Frank. He has been the power behind the throne for four decades-from his early days with Tara Telephone,  Horslips  and Moving Hearts,  through to his collaborations with Mary Black, and Christy Moore but  has lately become usurper . With the recent release of his first album “I like the Noise it makes “   he has become   famous in his own right.  Finally.

The venue filled up quickly, and more seats were requested and supplied. The next time I turned around they were standing at the back.

Declan has found his voice. And he used it to great effect in singing and entertaining the hushed crowd between amazing   guitar picking songs like “Lord Franklin” which was requested from the floor and harmonies on classics like “In the wee small hours of the morning “. He has an  honesty and a natural affinity with his audience. There is no artifice here. He has honed his craft and style through many a long year and now - in his sixties - is finally receiving   critical praise and approval on his own merit.

“They can put a man on the moon - or so they say- but you still have to tune your own guitar” he laughs as he leads into “Blood is rushing through these veins”.  Sinnott is a different animal now from the quiet man who played second fiddle.  At a summer gig in Wexford Arts Centre just prior to the launch of his album he was less confident.  He seemed to find the process more traumatic and was consumed by the angst that great   performers have when they lay themselves open and display their soft underbelly. He was reticent even about allowing the record company to finalise the album and as completion date drew nearer and a launch became imminent, wanted to start over.

And he has started over. The audience remained hushed throughout the performance, prompting him not only to remark on this but to recall days when an Irish audience would talk and drink through the whole show. The audience too has started over, it would appear. His set list is as diverse as one would expect from someone who has had such a wealth of influences and encompasses not only his own original compositions but ballads by Noel  Brazill, Neil Young, James Taylor,  Dylan, Sinatra, and a host of others.

Keating too is a revelation. Not only are they a duo, they are a couple, their affection and easiness with each other palpable. There is a banter and connection that transmutes into their comfortable harmony and their gentle jibes. Sinnott  the Svengali , coaxing her from her shell , magnanimous with the spotlight and Vicky reciprocating  by allowing us a glimpse of the power of her vocal when she holds  the crowd spellbound. She took centre stage for the hushed audience and the roar of approval signified that this young lady is indeed a contender. Of course there was an encore. And then a standing ovation, and as I type Alf McCarthy is reading requests  for Declan Sinnott on Late Date from people who were at the gig describing it as an “amazing night of beautiful music and humour.”

I concur.                                                                          M.D.M.  – Nov. 22^nd 2012