Last Sunday night at The Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny, Pilgrims, the first collaborative project in 16 years of Bell X1 founding members Brian Crosby and Paul Noonan delivered a performance that felt less like a gig and more like an intimate and utterly absorbing gathering of friends.
From the moment the house lights dimmed, there was a sense of anticipation in the room. The Watergate’s setting suited them perfectly; it allowed every subtle harmony, every shift in tempo, to land with clarity. Noonans and Crosbys performance didn’t overwhelm with bombast — it drew you in. Their beautiful minimalist approach with Brians piano and Pauls acoustic guitar, accompanied by only the minimum of percussion, filled the theatre without ever overpowering it.
The setlist moved fluidly between numbers from their current album “Wintering” and stripped down versions of old Bell X1 classics like “Eve, The Apple of My Eye’, “Some Surprise” and a stunning version of “Rocky Took a Lover”. Paul and Brian displayed an almost psychic understanding of each other, such was their connection on stage. It’s hard to believe that this venture is their first collaborative one in well over a decade! And from the smiles and nods to each other throughout the evening, it was as though they were somehow taking a stroll down memory lane to their times together in Bell X1. And this added to the sense of intimacy for all that were lucky enough to be present. You could feel the audience almost leaning in, becoming part of the stories being told on stage.
Vocally, Noonan was on strong form. His vocals carried a raw warmth, never showy but deeply expressive, rich, and carrying just the right amount of emotional weight. Instrumentally, Crosby was sublime. His work as a composer shone through here, bringing an almost classical feel to the evening. The stillness in the theatre was such that you could virtually hear the hammers strike the piano strings.. had there been the proverbial pin, we would have heard it drop! Couple that with Noonan’s vocals and guitar, and you have the makings of aural gold. These two friend played with a tightness that comes from real chemistry. Nothing felt forced; it was natural, unhurried, it flowed beautifully.
There was also a refreshing lack of pretension. Between songs, Noonans exchanges with the audience were easy and genuine, peppered with self-aware humour and brief glimpses into the stories behind the music. It created a sense of connection with those present, a feeling of being part of the story. None more so than the references to those “Sunday nights before school the next day” before playing “Sunday Night School Blues”!
Pilgrims at the Watergate Theatre wasn’t just a concert; it was an experience built on sincerity and craft. In a venue that rewards authenticity, they proved themselves more than worthy of the stage. At a time when all too much of current day music is boom and blast, it’s a timely reminder that sometimes, there really is stunning beauty in simplicity.
Pilgrims photos & set-list:
Set-list:
My Own Swollen Heart
The Grace of God
Bright & Bold
Pinball Machine (Bell X1)
Eve, The Apple of My Eye (Bell X1)
Sunday Night School Blues
Who’s Kissing Who
Some Surprise (Bell X1)
Beautiful Madness (Bell X1)
Tangerine Mime
Shitty Weather
Daisies in The Dirt
Rocky Took a Lover
Going Back (Dusty Springfield)
My Bones a Scaffold
________________________________________
I’ll See Your Heart and I’ll Raise You Mine
Photos & Words – Lar Gilmartin @larsoffthebeatphotography