The Vasco Era were one of my favorite acts at the last Falls Festival, opening with a solo reenactment of an Elvis clasic by lead singer Sid O’neil as the sun set into the nite, by the time the sky was black the entire band had the masses dancing crazy. You can check out a few YouTube clips which are on their MySpace page.
So when I saw the poster for their gig at the Republic I got excited. The Republic was packed and there was no way I was sitting at the back for this one. Pretty disappointed in my mates who decided after the first 10 seconds that they are a shit band and opted to sit out the back, such wowsa’s. So I hit the mosh alone although found plenty of known faces amongst the crowd. Sid’s voice can be a little off putting to those tho aren’t acquired to it, and I’m guessing that is what put my mates off, even tho a few of them loved them at Falls, they decided they hated them now.
The set started with yet another solo reenactment by Sid but different from the Falls solo. Vasco are absolute crowd pleaser’s with so much va
riety in their music, Sid’s talents go beyond lead guitar and vocals when he pulls out Bongo’s and Slide Guitar. The other two members don’t sit back and let Sid get all the attention, Sid’s brother Ted plays bass and isn’t scared to show his passion for his instrument, and drummer Michael Fitzgerald sent a symbol flying with his aggression on drums.
One song I have been longing to hear live again is Sweet Little Honey Bee, saved until last to leave that lasting impression on the crowd, what a good $16 spent.
