Cardinals

At times, the band was performing with so much passion, the crowd wasn’t truly sure whether the song had ended. Or perhaps the crowd was so engrossed in the performance, they didn’t want it to end. Each song sounded better than the recording, the live element adding a raw, thundering sound to the set. In addition to this overall sound, there were elements to certain songs that made them more special than listening to it over a speaker. For instance, in “Roseland,” the background guitars were more prominent, bringing a more ethereal sound to the song.

However, the song the live aspect enhanced the most was “As I Breathe.” Already an emotional, unguarded song, this song was performed by brothers Finn and Euan Manning, Euan on vocals as Finn played the melancholy accordion. Throughout the song, the other band members slowly trickle in with a guitar melody, steady drumbeat, and driving bass.

Towards the end of the set sits an intensely emotional run of songs including “Over At Last,” “The Burning of Cork,” and ending with “As I Breathe.” “Over At Last” kicked this intense trio off with raw and impassioned vocals that truly drove the song. Overall, the setlist enwrapped the audience’s attention throughout the entire show, truly a standout element from the show.

Cardinals put on a quintessential rock show, topped with guitars and drums that vibrate through your stomach, and completely filling the room with their unique, deeply Irish sound. Despite being early into their career, Cardinals perform with the skill of a band who was been performing for a long time.