Westside Cowboy - Whelans

Westside Cowboy - Whelans

Words: Jack Collum

Westside Cowboy had a sold out Whelan’s in the palm of their hand as they lashed out a blistering set of thunderous ballads filled with melancholic triumph, bursting with unchained vitality. It was one of those rare nights when the band could have given their vocals a rest as the attendees belted out almost every song passionately word for word the entirety of their 75 minute set. 

Reuben Haycock performed miracles on his guitar, transforming the instrument from a chainsaw to a feather and ripping through a set list comprised from their newly released debut album It Goes On and two previous EPs - undoubtedly there was a spike in Google searches for carpal tunnel surgery in the Dublin area brought on by the harrowing velocity at which his wrist hurtled at. Paddy Murphy battered his drum kit with raw pagan intensity giving the gig an air of shamanic quality. Aoife Ansen O’Connell’s lithe vocals and bouncing basslines caused her at times to angelically soar and lead guitarist Jimmy Bradbury at times seemed possessed by the daimon of Albert Hammond or Sterling Morrison as he plucked and twanged. 

Save for the odd slow song and the comedic interruption of a car's beeping horn during this lull which brought Haycock’s solo performance of take my leaving as I love you it was difficult to catch one’s breath in the hot air of the crammed venue. 

Be under no false illusions - these are the tunes you’d transpose onto paper, fold into a locket hung around your neck and take with you across the raging sea.