2022 - the year of the dan: chapter 20

Chapter 20

August closes with Pretty Happy. One of Cork’s current finest. In Triskel Christchurch of all places. And showing a film they made also of all things. About Cork’s Arcadia legacy. For that alone huge credit. Acknowledging their post punk ancestry.

After the film the band played. Arann begins with a sermon from the actual 18th century pulpit (this dedicated later to the recently deceased Cathal Coughlan). Then Abbey enters from the back of the room. Up the aisle spraying holy water. Yes the ghost of Cathal Coughlan is alive and well.

The gig is a riot of fuzz in celebration of the everyday. Vignettes of hangovers and pseudocream and nights in A&E. Absurdist maybe but full of profound insights. And while Cathal Coughlan is there alright, it’s the spirit of Finbarr Donnelly which is particularly thick in the air – after all Finbarr was a huge influence on Cathal – challenging, provoking, disturbing. Also Arann on bass seems to be mining a Kev Hopper (Stump) strain of playing. More of that. Putting the wonky into post punk. Post wonk.

At the end of the day a great band. Keep on swimming in the sea sea sea. Please.



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