Taking to the stage on this Monday night, Dublin’s Academy is buzzing with anticipation for Ty Taylor and his fellow rhythm and blues, soul-rockers. With the main floor being the only part of the venue open tonight, it begs the question about why this place is not sold out! With a huge welcome from their Irish punters, Vintage Trouble take to the stage and get things off to a start with the fabulous “Soul Serenity”.
As Ty glides over the red rug in front of the drum kit, he is as slick as ever, with a fitted black suite and fire hydrant red shirt. A totally compelling front man, that totally submerges his whole self into his performance, makes it kind of hard not to take your eyes of Ty, however when you have a collection of musicians such as Nalle (guitars), Rick (bass) and Richard (drums) to drop grooves such as “Blues Hand Me Down” and “Angel City California” where Ty tries to “bring a little Cali sunshine into the room”, you can’t help but feel that you’re getting the whole package indeed.
The energy in the room is kicked up a notch with each song and many a metaphorical mane of hair is let down, as the now packed main floor of the Academy is in full party mode! “Doing What You Were Doing” takes things down to a steady level with Ty’s voice just shining through the house PA like rays of golden sunshine. Tonight’s sound is one of the cleanest and I have heard in this venue and with Nalle’s solo glazing over the rhythm of the bands core.
Vintage Trouble excel in places where most bands seem to falter and that is due to the abundance of confidence that each band member exudes during tonight’s performance, as well as the last few times this writer has seen them over the years. “Run Like The River’ see’s Ty leave the stage and appear in at the lighting desk on the balcony to the surprise of the audience and commands a mass sing along of “Run Baby Run” chant!
In true Vintage Trouble spirit, Ty makes his way down to the main floor and immerses himself right in the center of the floor before climbing back up to the stage. No matter how many times you can witness this happening at a VT show, it’s still packs the wow factor!
With the audience now firmly in the bands hands, the pounding beat of ‘Strike Your Light” comes belting from the stage at a slightly faster pace, but totally fitting for the adrenaline of the moment! Even a Slipknot style “get down on the ground” moment happens, with full venue participation, pushing things over the edge and across the finishing line! Awesome stuff indeed!
As we are treated to an encore of “Nobody Told Me” and “Total Strangers” before the guys bid us farewell. Tonight Vintage Trouble slayed! One of the saviors of the rock n’ roll kingdom, just brought us all to the school of rock and it was epic! 5/5
SETLIST – DUBLIN ACADEMY 09/11/15
1. SOUL SERENITY
2. BLUES HAND ME DOWN
3. STILL AND ALWAYS WILL
4. ANGEL CITY, CALIFORNIA
5. GRACEFULLY
6. DOING WHAT YOU WERE DOING
7. ANOTHER MAN’S WORDS
8. MY HEART WON’T FALL AGAIN
9. RUN LIKE THE RIVER
10. STRIKE YOUR LIGHT
ENCORE
12. NOBODY TOLD ME
13. TOTAL STRANGERS
For more information on Vintage Trouble, click here.
Words – Karyn Corrigan
Photography – Stock images © Vintage Trouble 2015
