Gig review: Chasing Abbey, The Rollout Tour, Cyprus Avenue

Chasing Abbey, no doubt one of the biggest up-and-coming acts in Ireland, kicked off their sold out The Rollout Tour in Cyprus Avenue, Cork on September 20th. Their newest single, ‘Choices’, skyrocketed in the Irish charts to join their previous hits ‘Talk To Me’ and ‘That Good Thing’. Supported by Darcy Faith and Chinnie Izzie, two more great artists rising out of the Tullamore music scene, this Tullamore Trio put on one hell of a show. Darcy Faith, the first support act, paced timidly as she sang. This was her first gig, she told us after her first song, but her voice was far from timid; it had attitude. Clad in baggy, over-sized, high-waisted camouflage trousers cinched at her waist with a black belt, paired with a tight-fit, long sleeved white top, Darcy Faith looked the epitome of fem-street grime. Darcy didn’t just look the part; she played it. The first thing that struck me was the bass; it was intense, the kind you feel hitting from within your chest. Darcy’s voice was subtly powerful, and who doesn’t love a woman that raps; her skills really shone when Chasing Abbey brought both of their support acts back on stage for an all-in collaborative performance towards the end of the gig that was even more energetic than Chasing Abbey’s performance on its own, if that’s even possible. Darcy Faith, definitely one to watch.Darcy Faith released her debut single, ‘Casual’, on 7th September, which got its first play on national radio on 12th September as part of Today FM’s ‘Women Crush Wednesday’ on the List in Music show with Ed Smith. Chinnie Izzie, clad in tight-fitting black sportswear, a white puff rain jacket and a black hat, looked as if he had walked off an Adidas advert. Not a negative; he looked the part of a grime rapper straight off the streets, and like Darcy he didn’t just talk the talk; Chinnie Izzie won the affection and firm approval of the crowd with his charisma and charm that was only complimented by his caramel, smooth voice and fluid rap rhymes. Some may argue that Darcy Faith and Chinnie Izzie were typical looking; the way they dressed, the attitude rap and the overpowering bass; but there’s no denying that they were good. The music itself was decent, and you can say what you want about everything else, but style, no matter how seemingly stereotypical, should not and did not take away from the genuine talent and unique voice of these artists.Before the main act, a bottle of Tullamore Dew was placed on the DJ desk beside the MacBook that had “Chasing Abbey Rollout” slapped across the cover. There was dramatic thundering bass, twirling lights and uproar in the crowd as the lads walked on stage, establishing a buzzing, electric energy from the second they appeared; an energy that never waned. I discovered within the first thirty seconds that Chasing Abbey are definitely a band that are better live. I’d heard most of the songs before, but I realised very early on that their recorded material, which is great, isn’t a patch on the live experience. With all of their energy and consistent interaction with the audience, they made you feel like you were partying with them, rather than watching them perform. Not that it wasn’t a spectacle to see; Bee, Ro and Teddy C all looked so genuinely happy. I would catch them every now and then stealing glances and looking at each other as if to say, “Can you believe this?”, “Oh my God!”. You better believe it, guys. All those people were there for you, and they loved every minute of it just as much as you did. This Tullamore Trio put their heart soul, and every ounce of energy they had, and some, into their performance, telling us when and what to sing, to put our hands up like this, to wave our arms like this, encouraging us to come closer and move our bodies like this. In the weeks leading up to the tour, Chasing Abbey were releasing snippets of their new, unreleased material and encouraging their fans to learn the chants and to sing them at the gigs. “Are you having a good time?”, Bee asked the audience, “Cause we fuckin’ are!” he exclaimed, ecstatic. “So much love, so much love…” declared Ro, under his breath but just loud enough to hear. They appreciated the crowd and the support so much. It’s a really wholesome experience, to see young artists like this flourishing and establishing a following that they are so grateful for.Without a doubt, I would go to see Chasing Abbey again. If you haven’t seen them live yet, I highly recommend you do.