Hurling Shine at Féile Beag
By Salem, Salem, Salem, Salem leaves an indelible mark on listeners.
Féile Beag has become synonymous with spotlighting rising talent, and this year was no exception, with Hurling leaving a strong impression. Back on the bill after last year, the band showed more polish and confidence, hinting at bigger things ahead.
The band, made up of Eddie McCormack on guitar and vocals, Ciara O’Brien on bass and vocals, Kevin Callanan on drums, and Mark O’Dwyer lending his talents on lead guitar, kicked off their set with the intricate, swirling opener Acquaintances Become Friends Become Acquaintances Become Strangers. The track immediately showcases their tight interplay and knack for building atmosphere. They followed it with their latest single, Salem, Salem, Salem, Salem, a song that highlights both their evolving sound and their ability to craft melodies that linger long after the set is finished.
The rest of the set – Sewing Patterns, Studies in Modern Communications, Evergreen, Apollo, Out of Print, and I Could Never Make a Glasshouse My Home – all landed beautifully, each song finding its moment with the crowd and showing off the band’s versatility. Yet Salem, Salem, Salem, Salem stood apart. Its haunting melodies and persistent hooks made it impossible not to replay in your mind.
Eddie’s songwriting has always been a strong point for the band, but lately it feels as though he’s reached an entirely new level. Speaking with him before the gig, I asked about the possibility of a full album. His response was that, for now, the band is focused on releasing a few new songs on their own – and why not? If they’re anything like Salem, Salem, Salem, Salem, there’s plenty to be excited about. The melodies stick, the lyrics linger, and the hooks are impossible to shake – it’s the kind of music that leaves you counting down the days until the next release.
And on that if you haven’t seen or heard these guys then you are missing out on something special.
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