Concert Review: The Young Dubliners thrill at The Coach House

Keith Roberts of The Young
Dubliners at The Coach House.

For more than 30 years the Young Dubliners have been introducing and rewarding audiences with their high-energy and infectious brand of Celtic rock.

From left, Justin Pecot, Keith Roberts, Ethan Jones and Chas Waltz. 

Such was the case on Saturday night (July 24, 2021) when founding member/leader Keith Roberts (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and his talented cast of players (fiddler/multi-instrumentalist Chas Waltz, lead guitarist Justin Pecot, drummer Dave Ingraham and bassist Ethan Jones) thrilled a near-capacity crowd at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

Keith Roberts leading The Young Dubs through a
powerful set at The Coach House on July 24, 2021.

Covering an Irish music-themed Battle of the Bands event at Old World Village in Huntington Beach at the dawn of the 1990s was not only my first-ever music-related assignment as a contributing writer for The Orange County Register but it was my bona fide introduction to Celtic rock music. In addition to the Los Angeles-based Young Dubliners being on the bill, Orange County's own rising the Fenians and New York's Black 47 took the stage and delivered rousing sets that day as well. I was hooked and have been a fan of the Young Dubs and Irish rock since.

Celtic rock heroes The Young Dubliners.

Fast forward 30 years and Roberts and company are as potent as ever. Over the course of 100 minutes on Saturday night, the quintet delivered 22 selections; I was not the only attendee at the Coach House impressed by a rich set showcasing material from across their strong discography. Essentially, the band has long been able to delight with both original songcraft and classic material using a mix of modern rock instincts with the additional flavors of traditional instruments such as fiddle and mandolin to enhance the approach.

The Young Dubliners headlining at
The Coach House on July 24, 2021.

When the house lights dimmed Roberts took the stage with his acoustic guitar in hand and began strumming via a long instrumental opening. One by one, the other members of the band joined him as the power of the instrumental "Open Sea." That inspired opener was a definite prelude of things to come, with the follow-up "Seeds of Sorrow" a rousing original with an uptempo sweep and sing-along chorus.

"We made it," Roberts said after that well-received track from the band's most recent studio album Nine - 9 -Naoi. "Shall we have some fun?"

The uptempo rocker "We The Mighty" and "Up in the Air" were other early highlights of the night, both showcasing the Young Dubs' ear for fusing melodic and indie rock with skillful firepower. Roberts was locked in with the audience and truly seemed to be enjoying every minute of being back at the venue after so long away during the pandemic lockdown.

The acoustic folk rocker "Come Back Home" (from the band's 2005 album Real World) was noteworthy for two impressive instrumental breaks where fiddler Waltz and guitar master Pecot dazzled with a tandem lead section bolstering the song. 

Fiddler Chas Waltz in action.

The band slowed things down for "Raglan Road," a ballad where Roberts sang accompanied by the keyboards in the opening section before the other members artfully joined in as the song grew in power. 

Waltz impressed throughout the night with his mastery playing fiddle, mandolin, harmonica and keyboards so it's no surprise he was given an extended fiddle solo late in the set too. 

Drummer Dave Ingraham. 

Other highlights of the night included a version of "The Leaving of Liverpool," with Waltz blasting harmonica and a blistering guitar solo from Pecot positioned atop a truly in-the-pocket groove provided by Jones and Ingraham; during the instrumental "Ashley Falls" Pecot stepped off the main stage and walked down one of the dinner tables to showcase his signature fret work closer to the crowd.

Lead guitarist Justin Pecot ventured out on a table during "Ashley Falls."

The closing selections of the night included a rollicking "Follow Me Up To Carlow," and encore that included the wild instrumental "Banshee," and powerful takes on the Pogues' 1988 Shane MacGowan-penned "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" and the traditional favorite "Follow Me Up To Carlow."

From left, Justin Pecot, Keith Roberts, Dave Ingraham,
Ethan Jones and Chas Waltz.

For more information on the Young Dubliners, visit the band's official website HERE.

The night's opener, Orange County area quartet Slim Freaky performed a 35-minute set of original material blending rock, jam, jazz rock and reggae into their own sonic brew. All four of the musicians were excellent players and they received plenty of cheers from the crowd at The Coach House.

The Young Dubliners setlist at The Coach House on Saturday, July 24, 2021

Open Sea / Seeds of Sorrow / We The Mighty / Up in the Air / Brown Dog / Come Back Home / Bodhran / Raglan Road / Chance / The Leaving of Liverpool / Howaya Girls / Tell Me Ma / Foggy Dew / Ashley Falls / Waxies / Brown Eyes / Chas Waltz fiddle solo / Rosie / Follow Me Up To Carlow

Encore 

Banshee / If I Should Fall From Grace With God / Rocky Road to Dublin

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography by Bob Steshetz

Album Reviews: The Young Dubliners, The Feeling, Solander

The Young Dubliners. Photo credit: David Safian

By Robert Kinsler

There have been a number of early 2014 releases catching my attention. Here is a roundup of three of my favorite recent LPs worthy of any discerning modern music lover…

Artist: The Young Dubliners

Title: Nine (Young Dubliners)

You might like if you enjoy: The Alarm, the Fenians, the Pogues

Tell me more: No other Southern California-based outfit has continued to carry the torch for Irish music rock as powerfully as The Young Dubliners have since forming in 1988. On the Celtic rock quintet's aptly-titled ninth release Nine (set for release on March 4), singer-guitarist Keith Roberts and company have delivered a masterwork courtesy of their first-ever independent release. From the Alarm-styled anthem "We the Mighty" and cascading rocker "Say Anything" to the thrilling Celtic-flavored instrumental "Abhainn Mor" and gorgeous Irish ballad "Rain" with its acoustic guitar and mandolin textures, Nine is an album that will ring true on St. Patrick's Day and every other day of the year. Information: YoungDubliners.com.

Artist: The Feeling

Title: Boy Cried Wolf  (BMG)

You might like if you enjoy: Coldplay, Keane, Travis

Tell me more: The Feeling's fourth full-length album Boy Cried Wolf finds the five-member British troupe continuing to mine new territory, playing everything from piano- and guitar-anchored ballads to decidedly heavier material. Highlights include the hard-edged melodic rocker "Fall Like Rain", the infectious Britpop-styled "Rescue," the sweeping "Blue Murder" and ambitious Blur-meets-Oasis rocker "Boy Cried Wolf." While The Feeling isn't as well known in the U.S. as in its native England, discerning listeners in America will patently love The Feeling's rapturous sound. Information: TheFeeling.com.

Purchase 'Boy Cried Wolf' here

Artist: Solander

Title: Monochromatic Memories (A Tendervision Recording)

You might like if you enjoy: Moby, Color Theory, Sigur Rós

Tell me more: The perfect fusion of artful electronica, indie Americana and heartfelt folk-rock, Sweden-based Solander's Monochromatic Memories boasts an immersive experience across its fast-moving 10-track run. While the disc features textures and sounds that recall a wide range of artists including Moby, Sigur Rós and Sufjan Stevens, there is the simple fact that each of the songs on Monochromatic Memories is embedded with a richness and authenticity that shines on its own. The haunting "The Woods Are Gone," intoxicating "All Opportunities" and glorious "Black Rug," the latter with its swirling mix of acoustic guitar and symphonic lushness, are a celebration of both sound and song. Information: www.solander.se. 

Buy "Monochromatic Memories" here

The Young Dubliners set to release 'Nine' on March 4

THE YOUNG DUBLINERS RELEASE NINE ON MARCH 4th 

St. Patty's Day Tour Underway

 

 
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - Celtic rockers The Young Dubliners will release their aptly titled ninth record, Nine, on March 4, 2014 independently. After years on various labels, Nine will mark their first self-release, a decision made possible by the support of their loyal fans.

“We had a few offers but decided we were well overdue to take things into our own hands” says Keith Roberts, lead singer for the band. “After eight albums on various labels its just seemed right to go it alone for once and maintain full creative control.”

However “going it alone” did not mean without financial support and for that they turned to their fans. After only two weeks the band had raised over half the necessary funds to complete the recording, manufacturing and marketing plan for the album. And in February of 2013 they released the single “We The Mighty” to fans as a thank you for their support.

The Young Dubliners are currently on tour in Alaska in February before embarking on their West coast tour leading up to St. Patty’s Day. Following, they will travel with fans to Ireland.

More about The Young Dubliners:
Although the Young Dubliners sound is most commonly called 'Celtic Rock', that label, as labels often can be, is misleading. The Irish influence is there, certainly, but it's not the only influence that rears its head on their albums, or in live shows. After all, several of the band members have no Irish roots of any kind. "That was always the idea", Keith Roberts, lead singer for the band explains. "The sound was always intended to be a hybrid because we all come from different backgrounds. Even though two of us are from Ireland, a lot of the music we listened to growing up wasn't Irish at all, but when we got here, we got homesick and developed a new appreciation for Irish Music. In truth the Celtic riffs can just as easily come from the American band members. Everyone writes now so you never know what you’ll end up with when you start on a new album.”

Nine will mark their first self release after years on various labels. 

Nine Track List

1. We The Mighty
2. Say Anything
3. Up In The Air
4. Rain
5. Seeds of Sorrow
6. Abhainn Mor
7. The Deep
8. Fall
9. One Touch
10. Only You & Me