The final night of the Wider Than Pictures summer series at Collins Barracks in Dublin brought together a distinctly eclectic line up of Really Good Time, Baxter Dury and Super Furry Animals. With three very different acts on the bill, there was plenty of anticipation as the crowd gathered in the square for what promised to be a memorable closing night.
Opening the evening were Really Good Time, who had the unenviable task of getting things started while the venue was still filling up. Their 30 minute set was short, fun and exactly what was needed at that stage of the evening. They quickly won over those who had arrived early, setting a relaxed and upbeat tone and getting the crowd warmed up for what was still to come. They may have had the shortest set of the night, but they certainly served their purpose well.
Next up was Baxter Dury, and this was where the evening really caught fire. Playing for around 45 minutes, Dury delivered one hell of a live performance. There was an energy and swagger to his set that immediately grabbed the growing crowd, and by this point Collins Barracks was considerably fuller. The audience lapped it up, responding enthusiastically to Dury’s distinctive style and stage presence.
It was, without doubt, the standout performance of the night.
Super Furry Animals followed with a much longer 90 minute set. They played a good show and there was plenty for fans to enjoy, but I couldn’t help feeling that the performance fell slightly flat in comparison with what had come immediately before it.
That may be an unfair comparison. Following Baxter Dury’s high energy performance was always going to be a difficult proposition, and any act would have had their work cut out trying to match that level of intensity. The Super Furry Animals delivered a solid set, but the momentum and excitement generated by Dury never quite seemed to carry through in the same way.
Overall, it was an enjoyable final night for the Wider Than Pictures summer series, with Really Good Time providing a fun opening, Baxter Dury stealing the show, and Super Furry Animals bringing proceedings to a fitting close. Ultimately, though, it was Dury’s electrifying 45 minutes that left the biggest impression and set a standard that proved very hard for anyone to follow.
Really Good Time photos:
Baxter Dury photos:
Super Furry Aniamls photos:
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic