Mick Flannery: ALIVE – Cork Opera House 2019
Independent – 24 July 2020
For a second, it’s like I’m watching a horror film. I’ve a feeling of dread in the bottom of my stomach. This lovely Cork audience are here to witness one of their own grace the stage in an iconic building that has been restored to its former glory, both physically and culturally. But God love them, it’s 2019, and they think that the worst thing to be worrying about is Brexit. They really have no idea of what’s coming around the corner, nor an inkling that this might be the last time they have a chance to witness their Blarney hero strutting the stage in public for a long, long time…
…but here they have gathered without a care in the world, to enjoy Mick Flannery and his band Alive and well at the Cork Opera House. And for an hour or two, I might just have to park my own worries and join them…
With the briefest of greetings, Mick launches into Wasteland. Hard to believe that it’s the opening track from his 2019 eponymous album…it already feels like a classic. The first 30 seconds of Mick and guitar alone reels me in, but as I think this is going to be a subdued affair, the band comes in confidently and contribute to the pressure of Mick’s wonderful performance. Alan Comerford kills the track with a blistering left of field solo that sets up this evening’s musical menu as mouth-watering.
Must be More would be up next on the studio album, and it is in this case also. On the former, it has a lovely introspective feel, but here, it’s a different beast. Flannery growls his way through it. It’s great to have both. I can already see the next iPhone update, where Siri asks you “Which Mick Flannery would suit your mood today…?”
“Way up there in the sky
Or way deep down in your mind
Tell me waitin’ in a field somewhere
Is an inner child
Is a reason why.”
One of the dangers of a live album or any compilation is that placing, side by side, songs of your latest album, and ones recorded 14 years before, might show up some failings in your earlier work. Take it on the Chin, from Flannery’s debut album Evening Train, puts to rest any such fears. The snapshot of a night’s poker game with Mick playing every role shows how from the very start of his career, the man knew how to write songs. If anything, age has only allowed him to add a more convincing bite into some of the more domineering characters in the song.
Mick’s working his way through different points of his career and he and the band are finding their stride…warming up nicely. There’s a great grooving pace to One of the Good Ones and Get what you Give. I especially love what Matthew Berrill does on the sax in the latter, one man, one instrument making the whole thing sound huge. Mick briefly visits the bookend of his latest album with I’ll be out Here, that features Yvonne Daly on backing vocals. Before giving the band a bit of a rest, and the audience their first bit of proper craic of the night, he swoons the crowd with Boston.
How High Is and In the Gutter sound like long time crowd favourites. Hats off to Christian Best on the drums for holding everything together. Neither a boutique venue like the Opera House nor John Fitzgerald, who did a great job of mixing this album, is going to appreciate a drummer who plays too loud or can’t hold a groove. Best is the perfect man for the job. While I’m at it, I will tip the cap to those I haven’t yet mentioned—Karen O’Doherty on Violin and Synth, Mike O’Connell on Bass and Phil Christie on Keyboards.
It’s one thing to give all involved their dues in this article. But I am aware that with regards to Alive Mick Flannery has decided to give all involved their proper dues. With COVID-19 stripping almost everyone in the music industry of their income, he has decided to share ALL proceeds of this album with his band AND crew. So, if owning a lovely CD or piece of vinyl is not enough for you to buy this album outright rather than stream it to high heaven, hopefully knowing that you are contributing a little something to many people and their families during tough times might give you that little extra push.
Come Find Me and Star to Star find us back celebrating Flannery’s release. As I’ve said, there is serious quality to be found on all of his albums throughout the years, but I do believe that it’s the 2019 album that sees that quality shimmer from start to end. I also think that Star to Star is just an absolute wonder. This is its third incarnation that I’ve heard. The lo-fi acoustic version I heard on an E.P I reviewed for this website will probably always be my favourite, but I’ve never heard a bad version, and probably never will (by Mick at least).
As Small Fire and I Own You wrap up proceedings. Mick has no problem telling the crowd that all the songs are for sale outside. And neither do I, Alive (live from Cork Opera House) from Mick Flannery is FOR SALE now!
I have always had a problem going back to listen to studio recordings of artists I’ve seen who have put on an incredible live show. It’s hard to settle back to something recorded in a studio-safe place, with all its t’s crossed and i’s dotted when you have just experienced it in its rawest form, blowing the roof off the place. It can happen with live recordings too. I couldn’t listen to a Frames album for years after hearing Setlist. Lucky for us all, Mick Flannery has an intensity in his soul, and he applies it to everything he touches, so I think we’ll be OK. But this live recording magnifies that intensity. Is this a perfect performance? No… it’s better. Experiencing the unsettled start, the shaky voice, the stories forgotten, the moment the band start to cook, right up to the wall-shaking end, it’s a proper live experience that will have many chomping at the bit to return to.
By the sounds of it, it was a hell of a gig. Tell you what though, the next time Mick Flannery is able to grace the stage at the Cork Opera House with a full crowd, someone had better press record on that one…I’d say it’ll be electric…
…until then here’s to getting Christy Skulls a few more hits on YouTube…
Order ALIVE via Bandcamp: https://mickflannery.bandcamp.com/