Written by Sarah Murnane
“Every word of Irish spoken is a bullet fired for Irish freedom”, as made famous by Kneecap. So, every song sung in Irish is at least ten bullets probably. The inclusion of Irish in popular music is booming right now, with nearly every band in Dublin trying to capitalise on the feature. GrooveLine are there to fulfil all your Irish language desires, alongside some great tunes, without falling into the trap of mimicry and unoriginality. What is not to love?
GrooveLine are a six piece band from the North West of Ireland. The members including Bainsy, Tarach, Glen, Bronwyn, Matthew and ‘Captain Cian’. The band is an eclectic mix of talents. A saxophone, jaunty drums and grounding bass drive the music and underline the genre-bending songs. On top of this a violin, two guitars and piano add a stunning contrast, always keeping the melodies alive. The band’s IP appears to be the incorporation of the Irish language in lyrics and as a focal point for the songs. The rap elements are the key that brings the songs together giving them the energy to get the crowd involved.
The band is a melting pot of musical influences, rap, funk, jazz, pop and indie all blended together. The usual problem that a band like GrooveLine face is over-saturation. A simple case of too many ideas without enough careful thought about how to weave them together clearly. However, GrooveLine takes you on a journey through their music without getting lost in the details. The strength of their performance is not only in their stage presence, but the songs themselves. Their most popular and lead single is “Let It Rip”. A bouncy, infectiously fun, almost punk tune, that does what all funk music should; it makes you want to move.
All the crowd seemed to want was to dance. GrooveLine came on stage to a roaring crowd and left a put of sweat, beer and smiles. A spectacle that has become rare for the local Dublin music scene. The band has a commanding energy, like all classic rockstars. They brought bands onstage, took long swigs of cheap beers and played like their lives depended on it. The energy was almost like a dare to the crowd, GrooveLine are there to give it their all, can the audience keep up? They definitely tried their best.
In a scene of people all trying to climb to the top of the ‘who can fit the most Irish words in a show’, be safe in the knowledge that GrooveLine are the real thing. Genuine in their passion for the language, and producing great music, a wonderful show overall.
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