LIVE REVIEWS:

KIERAN GOSS: 3 NIGHTS AT THE OPERA HOUSE

Grand Opera House, Belfast, March 20/21/22 2008

with special guests Rodney Crowell, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Brendan Murphy & Kimmie Rhodes.

Any concert by one of our best singer/songwriters and performers, Kieran Goss, is not to be missed, but when his line-up of special guests includes such American luminaries as Rodney Crowell, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Kimmie Rhodes plus local artist, Brendan Murphy, it just doesn’t get any better!

The sheer quality of this bill may have generated high expectations, but on the opening night of its three-night residency at the Opera House, I doubt that even songwriters of the calibre of those on stage could come up with words to truly describe just how special this piece of ‘songwriter’s heaven’ actually was.

This acoustic-driven evening was perfectly hosted in his cool, comic and charming style by Goss, flanked on either side by his superb musical sidekicks, Gareth Hughes on double bass and Ann Kinsella on vocals; the trio acting as house band for all performers with the relaxed and informal approach being a successful factor of the show.

I was heartened to see so many of our talented singer/songwriters in the audience for, if anyone had wished to improve their craft, there was not one bad song amongst the two dozen performed at this 'singer/songwriter masterclass’.

As each guest took it in turn to perform with Goss for their allocated three-song set, their offerings sat comfortably in the show, as most were, like his, seemingly simple and gently melodic.

If I was forced to suggest highlights (an impossible task), I would go for the sweet and distinctive vocals of Rhodes (who has a local tour next month) in her parental wish for a child, Love And Happiness For You; Murphy’s matured style in Why Should I Be Lonely; finger-pickin’ Crowell’s I Know Love Is All I Need; Chapman’s vocal clarity during her extremely personal, Sand And Water; Goss with Reasons To Leave; and the ensemble finale version of the McPeake family classic, Will You Go, Lassie, Go.

Full marks to both Goss and, especially, promoter, David Hull, for this unique show... if only, like his Showband Show, it could become an annual event, the possibilities for guests are endless.

Damien Murray (Belfast Telegraph)

“The Mayobridge man was in fine fettle singing and playing guitar with all the confidence of an artist who knows exactly where he’s going... Kieran ranged through a whole lot of his new songs such as Clear Day, You’re The Reason Why and a lovely Jamaica, I’m In Love... There was a lot of audience participation, verifying the popularity of Kieran Goss and his engaging stage presence...".

Louis McConnell, Belfast Telegraph.

"Kieran is one of the most gifted performers around today. He has an amazing ability to reach out to his audience and connect with them in a very special way. This guy is the real deal, and that's what makes him the star he is."

Don Williams

"Probably the finest entertainer in the land."

The Irish News

"The sense of fun is tremendous, the playing first rate and the songs are sheer quality. The encores were genuine, but only because the man is too."

The Irish Times

"Kieran Goss clearly demonstrated just why he is regarded as one of Ireland's finest songwriters and most polished entertainers...(he) moved effortlessly through an irresistible concoction of upbeat, optimistic compositions, sensitive love songs and an hilarious laid-back banter...Goss held his listeners absolutely spellbound."

The Cork Examiner

ALBUM REVIEWS: BLUE SKY SUNRISE

“Blue Sky Sunrise is a beautifully-tailored trip into the songwriter’s craft...”

Ralph McLean, Sunday Life.

“The last track, Nothing’s Changed Again, is in my opinion, the best on Blue Sky Sunrise... it is perhaps the most profound song he has ever written... Cautious and mysterious, Nothing’s Changed Again is like a song the great Texan singer-songwriter Guy Clark might have written...”

Paddy Kehoe, RTE Guide.

“...there’s no doubt this is a rootsier, gutsier and more liberated Goss than we’ve heard before... ‘Gotta Get To You’ and ‘Blue Sky Sunrise’ reflect an exuberant, almost puckish side of Goss previously not exhibited outside of his often hilarious live shows... ‘Now That I’m Letting Go’ has soaring open-air harmonies to die for, and his duet with Kimmie Rhodes on ‘Why Should I Be Lonely’ is a real gem, full of all the back porch charm we expect from Emmylou... Many of the artists who emerged alongside Goss in the eighties have since faded from view. If they want to effect a comeback, they might need to follow his lead and take a risk or two.”

Jackie Hayden, Hot Press.

ALBUM REVIEWS: OUT OF MY HEAD... THE BEST OF KIERAN GOSS

"This is a great big warm blanket of a record. Untarnished with borrowed accents or strutting poses, it’s a no-holds barred celebration of the considerable back catalogue that this funny, charismatic and exceedingly consistent singer/songwriter has amassed stealthily over the past decade. From the pared down acapella version of Brand New Star to the country-tinged I Don’t Want To Stop Loving You and the big sky canvas that is I Close My Eyes, Kieran Goss is a three-dimensional writer with an uncanny ear for the right tune. A recent collaboration with Jimmy MacCarthy and Sheppard Solomon, That’s What Love Is For possesses Goss’ clarity peppered with MacCarthy’s more obtuse reference points. A mighty fine marker on the path."

Siobhan Long, The Irish Times.

"The single, Out of My Head, is already a big hit in Ireland and rightly so; it's one of those songs that will be played on the radio for years to come. Like all of Goss's songs, this one grows on you more every time you hear it. I Don't Want to Stop Loving You is an interesting piece - I can easily imagine Willie Nelson or Kris Kristofferson recording it with great success. The next track, I Close My Eyes is another fine song, which hints at New Zealand band, Crowded House. This train of comparisons does not imply plagarism, rather that Goss's songs fit very well into such illustrious company."

The World of Hibernia

ALBUM REVIEWS: WORSE THAN PRIDE

"Goss's brand of folk/pop that borders on alternative is tender and insightful, honest and raw, and shows a songwriting talent of great depth. Worse Than Pride is a beauty."

Music Row

"Three or four listens in, you feel that these songs have been with you for a lifetime. That, I suppose, is the acid test for someone whose purpose in writing is to have their voice heard by the widest possible audience. Many of these songs are destined to be played off the radio, and to be covered by wedding bands the length and breadth of the country. Seriously, I can see numbers like Out of My Head and Running for a Reason being highly sought after by those looking for top quality material."

Hot Press

"There is a quiet, insistent spell to these eleven tracks that leaves them turning over in your head long into the night."

The Irish Times

"Worse Than Pride is a very fine album, yet another landmark in the career of a very gifted writer. Listen well and often. You'll be glad you did."

The Irish Independent

"If the thought of buying an album dominated by the acoustic guitar is alien to you - wise up! Worse Than Pride may just change your ideas about impact in music, and convince you that less is more."

Sunday Life