There’s something church-like about any show with tiered seating and a journey down the aisle to take your pew. With that in mind and the pre-emption of a somewhat spiritual set from the evening’s headline act, it’s with a hushed reverence we take out seat in East Belfast’s Strand Arts Centre.
We’ve been called together tonight by the team behind EastSide Arts Festival for the second consecutive appearance on the theatre stage from Northern Irish songwriter David C Clements. A sizeable crowd has congregated, eager to hear Clements with full band performing tracks from his upcoming record.
In an early confessional I admit I’ve never previously heard of Oliver Cole. He’s a rather charming, bearded Dubliner, dapperly dressed and comfortably weaving story and song. There’s something of a 70s influence lurking amongst the contemporary themes – Don Henley at worst; Neil Young at Best. ‘Magnolia’ is his stand-out moment. Wistful romance and a melodic musing on how things used to be.
Pounding floor tom ushers in the David C Clements set. The band line-up springs instantly to the fore. Without introduction or wasted seconds we’re drawn into the powerful folk-rock you come to expect from this artist. He sings of being “so young and so alive”, while on ‘My Dear Mother’ he surmises “I believe a change is gonna come for me”. This is celebration of the here and now but with an eye firmly looking out for future horizons.
And why shouldn’t the Irish songwriters of today be so forward thinking. Hozier dominated the charts, Lightbody paved the way in a sense with Snow Patrol and Foy Vance is currently winning over legions of new fans since his support shows with Ed Sheeran. It’s a great moment in history to be playing the Irish singer-songwriter card. Of course you need the talent to back up those claims and although at times tonight, Clements’ band pound away in a similar vein to Foy Vance’s “Joy of Nothing” band, the voice is distinctively that of a unique act.
It’s not all driving bass, cymbal crashes and soaring vocals. Tender piano ballads intersperse the set, clearly or maybe subconsciously tapping into the sounds of Ryan Adams on ‘Love Is Hell’. At times you wait for a gospel choir to raise from the stage and take a chorus home. If you listen carefully you can almost hear them. If you buy an album years from now, you may well do.
For years the music of Clements has been championed by the aforementioned Gary Lightbody and the newer tracks tonight follow in the footsteps left by the Snow Patrol. The subtlest of Northern Irish accents creeps through at times. The clear influences of the writer’s spirituality are never far away – and neither should they be. There’s something here for those with faith, those with none, and those who believe in the power of a well-crafted pop song.
‘When The Sun Comes Up’ is one such tune. Of all moments in an accomplished set, this is the one you can hear ringing out over the closing credits of whatever the next cult American drama might be. Maybe the slight touches of Nashville sound, hat tips to “the city of brotherly love”, and ‘Hollywood’ – a beautiful duet with Craig Skene on keys are hints to an upcoming transatlantic desire but for now, it’s East Belfast that’s been well and truly conquered.
The anticipated encore of the evening is fan-favourite ‘Hurricane’ and as the refrain resounds “I’ve got peace in my heart”, it’s time to leave our pew, re-walk the aisle and take our steps out into a darkened city with hope and a song in our soul.
Photos © Gerry McNally 2015.