Live Review: Halfway, Paddy McHugh & The Goldminers, Silent Feature Era

A sell-out crowd of converts old and new has assembled tonight at the Old Museum to officially launch Halfway's stunning fourth long player, Any Old Love, the grand setting very much matched by the occasion. Local four-piece Silent Feature Era start with a hypnotic build, the intuitive guitar interplay between Greg Cathcart and Adrian Mauro meshing well with the gothic folk vibe being channelled. Rhythm section Luke Sullivan and Liam Eaton keep it tight and brooding as these subtle, nuanced stompers combine innate harmonies and experimental touches to fantastic effect. They close with a new song These Soiled Hands whose cacophonous Mogwai-esque finish doesn't outstay its welcome. Paddy McHugh & The Goldminers take the stage next, a Halfway shirted band member indicative of the level of inter-band support on offer. Paddy McHugh proves a versatile and multi-layered performer, offering a take on country spliced through rockabilly and folk. The Goldminers provide solid back-up throughout as Paddy is joined by Jimmy on didgeridoo for a quieter ballad then later delving into fast-paced hoedowns. A particularly affecting Dan O'Halloran points to shades of an antipodean Shane MacGowan as the band's set concludes to much applause. Complete with accompanying visuals and classical music intro, Halfway are welcomed to huge cheers as they commence the new album in its entirety with openers Drop-Out and Honey I Like You. Liam Fitzpatrick's loping banjo adds a driving edge to Hard Life Loving You, a gorgeous paean to Central Western Line relationships. These are real tales, filled with dust, booze, loss and redemption. John Busby leads us through Dulcify, the old school race footage visuals flooding the senses with equine imagery. The Shakespeare Strings are then welcomed to the stage for classic mid-album tune Shakespeare Hotel, John Wilsteed's genius guitar line and swelling strings adding to its timeless appeal.  Factory Rats then gets the crowd rockin' before the honeyed tones of Chris Dale grace a velvety Erebus & Terror, a tale of lost Arctic ships and life journeys. The band then shares around the vocals for breathtaking album highlight Sunlight On The Sills before a gentle In The Waking Hours combines its bewitching refrain with the refined attention-to-detail that sets this band apart. Messrs Peacock, Fitzpatrick, Johnson and Hawtin are all essential cogs throughout. It's then time for some old favourites post-encore with particular mention to classic performances of Oscar, 110 and Patience Back that bring such an infectious warmth from the crowd. There's a real majesty to this band when in full flight and tonight is a victory for the battlers, the burnouts, the dreamers. A special night to be a part of.