The Staves, Christof - McHughes, Belfast
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The Staves, Christof
McHugh鈥檚, Belfast
23rd April 2012
It鈥檚 a sold out gig in McHugh鈥檚 basement tonight; the place is as full as a butcher鈥檚 dog and we鈥檙e all eager to hear some fine folk. First to the stage is , armed - in true folky style - with only a guitar and harmonica. Originally from The Netherlands but having lived in Galway for a stint, he鈥檚 no stranger to these shores. He鈥檚 got style, and I鈥檓 quite envious of his gravity defying hair-do.
His music is a lovely blend of whimsical folk, but always with an essential catchy hook. After a slight technical hitch, he launches into 鈥楾he Ghost Of Corrib鈥檚 Lady鈥 and the title of his latest E.P 鈥楬oney Tears鈥 back to back, his songs of love and life being lapped up by this evening鈥檚 crowd. Inviting The Staves on the stage to tackle a bit of backing harmony on 鈥楳ind Yourself鈥, with perfect vocal throughout and a chorus that creeps up on you, it builds into a stomper and is a sign of things to come.
Christof leaves us with a new song 鈥楧igging The Waves鈥, proving that he鈥檚 the real deal, joking about his website, claiming that he has a long way to go before he becomes the 鈥楥hrist Of Music鈥. He鈥檚 won this audience over and his music is exceptional, but go on over and take a listen- www.christofmusic.com
With Christof all packed up, it鈥檚 time for tonight鈥檚 main act to hit the stage. The 3 sisters launch straight into the title track of their recent release 鈥楳otherlode鈥, with flawless harmonies and music as clever as it is delicate. There鈥檚 been an obvious trendy folk revival of late, given the mainstream success of Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons, but the girls are musically a league ahead of many of their U.K peers, displaying the kind of musical knowledge that can only come from growing up together and knowing each other inside out. Highlights include 鈥楳exico鈥 and 鈥楾ongue Behind My Teeth鈥, a tune that has the perfect amount of angst, and makes full use of their back-line lads on bass and kit.
The main appeal of the 鈥楾he Staves鈥 is the vocal arrangements, which throughout, are something that Motown would have been proud to put the stamp on. The girls also have great chemistry amongst themselves and with the crowd, poking fun at each other and charming McHugh鈥檚 in the process. They leave us with 鈥榃inter Trees鈥 before a 2 song encore where they invite Christof back up to return the musical favor. There鈥檚 a full length album due in the summer where Glynn & Ethan Johns have weighed in, as well as tour support to Bon Iver on the cards, so it鈥檚 looking good for the gals. Believe the hype.
鈥淟ovely girls,鈥 Father Ted might describe them.
Eamon Murray
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