Paul Young began his ‘Songs and Stories’ tour last night in the Spirit Store, Dundalk, for a sold out show. The night was less of a standard high-energy pop concert and more of a ‘VH1 Storytellers’ vibe perfectly suited for the intimate, creaky-floorboard atmosphere of the Store.
Paul’s voice has definitely matured into a deeper, more gravelly soul register over the decades. While he might not hit those 1983 crystal clear highs anymore, he leans into the grit now, which gave tracks like ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)’ a much more weary, bluesy feel that really resonated in a small room.
The highlight for many wasn’t just the music, but the banter. He spent a good portion of the night reminiscing about the 80s, his time with The Q-Tips, and anecdotes involving everyone from David Bowie to George Michael, and a particularly funny story about Bruce Springsteen. Wearing the ‘No Parlez’ jacket on stage was a great nostalgic touch. He even at one point tried to ‘Split the G’ on a pint of Guinness, and some eager fans in the front row made sure he did it properly.
There were even ‘Ask Paul’ flyers outside that you could ask a question on and put in a box on the stage, which gave the gig a more personal touch, and opened the floor for anyone who is curious about any aspect of his career to hear it straight from the horses mouth.
Naturally, ‘Everytime You Go Away’ was the big singalong of the night. In a venue that small, the crowd basically became his backing choir, which is always the magic of a Dundalk gig.
There’s something about seeing a global 80s icon just a few feet away from you while you’re holding a pint (or camera) that makes you realise that the Spirit Store is one of the best venues in the country (as was recently confirmed by winning yet another two IMRO awards for Best Venue and Best Technical Crew).
It felt like a victory lap for a guy who genuinely loves being on stage. It was sentimental, a little bit ‘rough around the edges’ in an authentic way, and a total treat for the fans who managed to snag tickets before it sold out almost immediately.
If you are a fan of his music and can find a ticket for the rest of the tour, I’d highly recommend going along for a couple of beers, some sing along and some nice interactive entertainment.
Paul Young photos:
Photos & Words – David McEneaney @experimentzero