The queue for Grian Chatten’s instore show at Resident Records left no doubts about the appetite for this show. The Fontaines D.C. frontman treated a keen audience to an early acoustic showcase of his debut solo album, ‘Chaos For The Fly’, released just a few days earlier on 30th June.

Grian took a surprise berth towards one end of the store while the shop rows, usually the reserve of vinyl-flicking punters, quickly filled. It’s only been a few weeks since we stumbled upon Grian busking at the end of Kensington Gardens during The Great Escape. Familiar turf then.

We joked before going in that it’s not a Resident show unless the acts climb the counters (with a nod to Lambrini Girls’ recent extravaganza), but no such antics are needed. As per our reaction to the record itself, Grian had everyone’s swift attention, both inside and out.

“Don’t forget those at the back with no ticket!” came the shout… “That’d be called outside,” Grian drolly retorted to the passer-by loitering by the back door. A brief wry smile and then on to business.

The night kicked off with album opener ‘The Score’, followed by the immense ‘Salt Throwers Off A Truck’. ‘Fairlies’ sounded grandiose, and it seemed fitting that the heavens opened during the closing rendition of ‘Last Time Every Time Forever’. Before we even read the press release, SOURCE had described the album to friends as slightly dark, introspective folk that “evoked traipsing through a quiet, misty Irish town town”.

Grian’s press release starts: “Thirty miles north of Dublin along a windswept promenade you’ll find a tired casino, the sort of place anyone familiar with the rusted seaside glamour of forgotten coastal towns will recognise.” Spot on.

We’re massive Fontaines D.C. fans, and obviously not alone with this (catch our reviews at Chalk (2021) and at The Haunt in 2019). What hits with the new record is that the nine tracks only span 36 mins. The overall sound and genre itself may be delightfully distinct from Fontaines, but the pacing and time structures hold dear.

We won’t even apologise for the unashamed love-in for Grian. And we extend that further to the excellent team at Resident Records, who continue to deliver incredible shows. Long may those queues extend down Kensington Gardens.

Grian Chatten, Resident Records
Tuesday 4th July 2023
Photos by Ashley Laurence