If you have FOMO from not seeing the Aurora Borealis over the weekend, wait until you hear about Dea Matrona at Clwb Ifor Bach on Saturday night. With the Irish band touring their recently released For Your Sins album, this visit was made additionally special due to being their first time playing in Wales.
After a wholesome warmup from Swansea country artist Eleri, an eager crowd filled the space, chattering about previous times seeing Dea Matrona, how good they are live and the amazing guitar skills expected to be showcased at their gigs. Gliding through the crowd and arriving on stage from the front, band members Orláith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn show no problems connecting to the audience, something they do charismatically and naturally with abundant Irish charm. Later on, they’ll encourage the crowd to go wild for their baby blue, cowboy hat merch items, which we happily oblige – cheering as the girls teasingly put them on, booing in jest when they take them off.
The magnetic atmosphere created by the energetic movement of the band draws people in close to the stage, hoping to immerse themselves in the moment as much as they can. There’s true rock grit to Dea Matrona’s performance style, and it’s engaging and admirable.
As this writer predicted when reviewing For Your Sins, the fresh release is optimised by hearing it performed live, with the spine-tingling Glory Glory (I Am Free) stunning an otherwise enthusiastic and vocal audience into silent captivation. Meanwhile, a cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder On The Dancefloor was a welcome addition to the setlist that no-one stood still for, and my personal favourite Wilderness was as empowering live as I had hoped.
Full to the brim with catchy melodies, vibrant vocals and a fiery stage presence, Dea Matrona are certainly making a rich impression: I’m confident they’ll continue to grow their popularity and are set to be a bright future.
Dea Matrona + Eleri, Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Sat 11 May
words and photos JOSEPH ELIJAH
