WORDS BY NINA GREEN

Fans crowd the open-air amphitheater on a chilly Monday night at San Diego State’s popular concert venue. Dermot Kennedy, a passionate singer-songwriter from Dublin takes the stage as a blue hued mist covers the floor. Modestly dressed in baggy beige trousers and an oversized zip-up, he looks absolutely ready to sing his heart and soul out. A very simple set up was all Kennedy needed to let his emotive songs do the talking.

Opening with a strong “An Evening I Will Not Forget,” his passionate words filled the amphitheater. His rich but deep and raspy voice screams out line after line, slowly building the emotional tone for the night.

With a voice powerful enough to incite tears, he dives into ballads like “Couldn’t Tell,” “Lost,” “Rome,” “What Have I Done,” and “Moments Passed” each one captivating the audience.

As the show builds, so do the scenes behind him, flashing dark images of the woods, eyes, doves and ravens (referencing the name of a previous EP), as well as women’s silhouettes.

Every few songs he would give an insight about the lyrics, showing his passion for the music he writes. Just before performing “All My Friends” Kennedy explains, “this song is about friendships and relationships you’re not quite ready to leave behind and places you’re not ready to say goodbye to.”

After another commentary, he fidgets a bit and blurts out “it’s very quiet I feel like I’m giving a speech,” absolutely charming the crowd and reminding everyone of his incredibly sweet nature.

His beautiful voice sang each song like it was overwhelming him with emotion to get the words out; a feeling not all artists can convey in their music.

The crowd-pleasers of the night were “Power Over Me” and “Outnumbered,” two of the most popular releases of his career thus far. Kennedy closes an amazing show with “After Rain.” He encourages everyone to sing “you won’t go lonely” with him all the way to the end as his voice slowly fades away and the music dies down truly making it an evening I will not forget.

FEBRUARY 3RD, 2020
CALCOAST CREDIT UNION OPEN AIR AMPHITHEATER, SAN DIEGO, CA
WORDS BY NINA GREEN

*CREDIT THE PHOTOGRAPHER IF IMAGES USED, PLEASE! NO EDITING AND/OR REMOVAL OF WATERMARK(S)*

WORDS & PHOTOS BY NICOLETTE CUNNINGHAM

A chilly, February night in Los Angeles. The Wiltern, a legendary Art Deco landmark. Dermot Kennedy and SYML. An evening I will not forget…

The Wiltern theatre is no stranger to great talent; from Willie Nelson, to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, to fellow Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor. Dermot Kennedy was sure to fit right in.

The house was sold-out, every space filled with excited fans buzzing from the wine and ale. Slowly the lights dimmed and the letters “S Y M L” appeared as a backdrop for the opener, Brian Fennell (SYML, pronounced “sih-mul”). Fennell wrote his first song at 18 so creating gorgeous music and lyrics is second nature to him. Playing the acoustic guitar and accompanied by a violin and keyboardist (also named Brian) Fennell played songs from his latest self-titled album (SYML, 2019) like “Everything All At Once” and new releases like his latest single “Flags.” Fennell’s work “continues to create minimal soundscapes that find power in their relatability and emotion” and with that he fit right in with the Dermot Kennedy crowd.

SYML wrapped up his set and the room buzzed even louder with anticipation for the headlining act.

Once more the lights dimmed… This time blue lights flashing, slowly. Almost like a heartbeat anticipating the coming vocals. Thanks to Dermot’s brilliant lighting designer Dermot Kennedy appeared as if from thin air. Center stage, angelic, “An Evening I Will Not Forget” ringing from the stage. The song builds, the lights illuminate more of the stage and Dermot’s band comes into view; Johnny Coote, Kieran Jones, and Micheál Quinn. Dermot’s set was about an hour and a half long and it feels like it went by in seconds. Dermot played some of my personal favorites like “Redemption,” “Lost,” and “Moments Passed,” but I wished he would go through his entire discography. There was a particular moment during the set that reminded me just how genuine Dermot is. Before playing an obvious crowd favorite, “For Island Fires and Family,” Dermot invited everyone to envision a place or a feeling of home. A person, a place, or a moment. Whatever it may be to feel this song and the meaning that it brings; welcoming everyone to truly embrace that feeling during the song because that’s what he does too.

Dermot Kennedy writes and plays music that gives people the courage to feel. To remember that love, life, loss; they’re all moments to be felt and understood. That in the end, no matter what, “you won’t go lonely.”