Charcoal Greys Source Arts Centre Live Review
By Charcoal Greys Are The Band You Need to Hear
Carrick-on-Suir band the Charcoal Greys made a very impressive debut at the Source Arts Centre Thurles on Saturday night. As Emily, Luke, Killian, Zach and Sam took to the stage, it’s hard to believe this is still such a young band – a group that only came together less than two years ago.
Wasting no time in setting tone they tore straight in to ‘Muddy Shoes’ – a snarling, guitar-driven stomper that immediately snapped the room to attention. Powered by Emily O’Keeffe’s commanding, full-throated vocal, freshly released but already feeling road-tested, the song was greeted like an old favourite, with the crowd needing no second invitation to throw themselves into the chorus.
From the taut pulse of ‘Violaine’ through the defiant surge of ‘Deny Your Alibi’, the raw snap of ‘Apart’ and the darker edges of ‘Morbid Curiosity’, Charcoal Greys barely let the energy dip for a second. It was a breathless run of songs that showcased a setlist bursting with ideas and originality.
With a new EP on the horizon, Charcoal Greys offered a glimpse of what’s next in the shape of ‘Just Because’, a fresh cut that quickly emerged as a standout. Instantly engaging and warmly received, before signing off on a high with the bright and buoyant ‘Sober’ – one of the band’s earliest releases – closing the set with a sense of uplift and assurance that neatly underlined just how far they’ve already come.
Closing Thoughts
Charcoal Greys delivered a set that thrived on its raw edges, never over-polished but bursting with personality and intent. It’s easy to see why their momentum is building: the chemistry feels natural, the songs land with conviction, and at the centre of it all is a vocalist who channels the spirit of Chrissie Hynde – all cool authority, emotional bite and unmistakable presence – while still sounding entirely her own fantastic night.
Setlist
Violaine
Deny Your Alibi
Apart
Morbid Curiosity
Out of Time
Pandoras Box
Guilty
Content Struggle
Blisters
I Love You
Just Because
She’s a Loaded Gun
Sobre
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Opening Act
I’ve caught Paradise Conspiracy three times now, and each time feels like a fresh shot of adrenaline straight to the chest. Oscar, Áine, Conor, and Eli operate in a singular mode: full throttle, no brakes, no half measures. From the first riff to the last crash of the cymbals, there’s an urgency and precision that’s impossible to ignore.
Their setlist leaned heavily on covers, but two originals — ‘Take My Life’ and ‘Evil Eyes’ — immediately stood out. Both are impressive for such a young band, signalling that Paradise Conspiracy are maturing not just musically, but creatively too.
The set itself was pure velocity — fast, ferocious, and relentless. Oscar was in absolute command, tearing across every inch of the stage like he owned it. There’s no mistaking the chemistry here; this is a band forged from friendship, and it spills into the crowd. Between songs, they took a moment to talk about mental health and looking out for each other — a rare warmth beneath all the chaos.
Paradise Conspiracy are still a band in the making but give them six months and a full catalogue of original material, and they’re going to be something else entirely. Right now, though, live, they’re already damn special.
Setlist
Boys in the Better Land
Basket Case
Bulls on Parade
American Idiot
Enter Sandman
Take My Life
Evil Eyes
Killing in the Name