Kneecap perform an accomplished live set at the Marquee

The night out had already started for the audience well before Kneecap came on stage for their recent Live at the Marquee appearance.

Opening act Black Nylon had impressed the crowd with their rhythmic yet plaintive rock sound, despite having very little online presence, and then the well-selected intermission music from people who have played gigs alongside or collaborated with Kneecap, songs like Up The Flats by Gemma Dunleavy, Roisin by The Rubber Bandits — specifically the version as Gaeilge — and Fontaines DC’s Favourite.

However, there was no question who the night’s real favourites were – three men going by the monikers Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí.

Following an audio-visual package combining various highlights of the Irish soccer team intercut with footage from the ongoing genocide in Palestine, DJ Próvaí came on stage first.

Framed by the very bare and industrial stage design, he started their set playing some of the rave-influenced hip-hop music sounds that are the backbone of the band, and perfectly suited to a venue like the Marquee.

This was the final date of a busy tour for the band, and their 16th gig in 11 countries since June 6. They were delighted to be finishing up the run with a gig in Cork, a place they have a long connection to both personally and as a band.

Móglaí Bap was full of praise for some of our homegrown heroes such as Michael Collins, Tom Barry, and Sonia O’Sullivan. 

Following that, Mo Chara also suggested some kudos for Cillian Murphy, but as can be expected, they had less salubrious things to be said for Micheál Martin.

This sense of constantly having ‘the craic’ in the moment of the gig, but never forgetting the real world outside of the venue has always underpinned what Kneecap do.

They played a number of tracks from their new album Fenian, which was released just over two months ago. 

It’s newness of course means that other than the main singles Smugglers & Scholars and Fenian didn’t dominate the energy of the capacity crowd as much as their best known songs like H.O.O.D, The Recap, and Get Your Brits Out, but the whole night had the audience engaged and singing along and chanting back.

It must be said, though, that unlike most conventional touring bands, where you start steady, introduce new material and end up with the hits, Kneecap shows are more of a non-stop party, where songs are full of witty lines that also dig deep into political and social issues. 

They are being performed with both those sitting in the seats to listen to the lyrics, and those up the front in any of the multiple mosh pits, all equal participants in Kneecap’s live show.

Pushing the workload of the security staff to the max, the trio were encouraging people to get on other people’s shoulders (‘smaller on the taller’ was their simple direction) and keep clearing space for people to ‘make a pit’, but also making sure to remind people to stay hydrated.

All this time on the road has helped shape Kneecap into an accomplished live act, and with this being their biggest live show to date in Cork, we look forward to seeing what space they will occupy next time.