Damien Dempsey live!

Damien Dempsey
Schubas, Chicago
Friday, September 5, 2008

Looking like a younger, buffer Larry Mullen Jr., former boxer Damien Demspey brought a slice of the Emerald Isle to Schubas on Friday night to an attentive and participation-ready crowd. Singing with an affected accent missing from most cross-Atlantic artists, Dempsey often touched on themes of country, God, love, and repelling disappointment in his acoustic guitar-laced ballads.

With extra guitar and deft mandolin accompaniment by John McLaughlin, the Irish troubadour joked about having to tune his own instrument — an uncommon occurrence when performing in the U.K. And while Schubas’ intimate quarters may not match the match the reception Dempsey routinely receives elsewhere, the stripped-down surroundings only enlivened the show, which clocked in just short of two hours.

Armed with a caustic wit and a twinkle in his eye, Dempsey kept the stories to a minimum, but aimed a few zingers toward the two parties participating in November’s election. Calling on the candidates to listen closely to “Sing All Our Cares Away,” Dempsey made note of the similarities between Dublin on a downturn in the ’80s and the States in the new millennium.

Despite the current political climate, Dempsey’s tunes — fueled by staccato flourishes and end-rhyme schemes — focused on looking above (or within) to find strength and encouragement. The prayers inherent in “Negative Vibes” (“Lord, won’t you give me the strength to be strong and be true?”), “Patience” (“Patience, gimmie some of that sweet patience Lord/I’ll keep my eye on the goal”), and “It’s All Good” (“Love yourself today, O.K.”) rang out in the night, burrowing into the souls of the crowd like a hard-to-shake chill misting in from the Irish Sea.

— Janine Schaults

Category: Live Reviews, Weekly