Home » Coastline Grass Club at The International Bar
Self-proclaimed funk, psychedelic, surf-rock band Coastline Grass Club kicked off the first weekend of March with a bang with a release gig for their single I’m Your Dog in anticipation of their EP High Tide release. The trio that curates this zestful fusion consists of Devin Reardon on lead vocals and guitar, Eduardo Zacarias on drums, and Tom Harbison on bass and vocals. The multi-genre indie rock band are currently making waves within the Dublin music scene. With consistent performances ranging in musical pubs like Fibbers and Sin É, to arts and musical festivals like The Works as part of the Smithfield Creatives. Coastline Grass Club have gained attraction for their intimate and energetic live performances. Their release party, which took place in the International Bar, was no exception.
We made our way down the extremely narrow stairs in single file to the basement that was covered with 1916 memorabilia and what can only be described as a shrine to Michael Collins. At first, I thought we were in the wrong section as celebrations were rampant with an English “lads on tour” and an ossified woman wearing a hot pink sash with “It’s my Birthday!” plastered on it. My heart still goes out to that lonely and overworked barman. While it may have been an interesting aesthetic and “tight squeeze” according to one hammered Englishman, I found it was weirdly perfect. I won’t lie, it was an interesting choice of venue but its absurdity and energetic crowd added to the night’s excitement.
The boy’s support acts kicked off the celebrations on a high, first, we had Lampróg a Dublin-based four-piece band with a soft and hazy dream pop aura. Their lush and velvety guitar immediately turned heads and perked ears while frontwoman, Isabelle Nolan, dreamy and hypnotising vocals lit the basement. Their name Lampróg, which is Irish for Firefly, encapsulates their ambience perfectly. Their light and fuzzy sound illuminated the cramped and overly patriotic basement.
Then we had a Dublin-based Neo-Soul and Disco Funk band named Echo Fold. The group’s active and bouncy performance had the crowd on their feet and moving to their own tunes, most notably Loose, a Daft Punk-esque tune with funky guitar chords alongside mesmerising sliding vocals and a steady beat. The four-piece kept this high energy by adding their own twist to covers such as Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on The Dancefloor”. Both Lampróg and Echo Fold played phenomenal set lists engaged amazingly with the crowd and left us with enough energy for the main event.
The boys had an amazing reception from the crowd, they maintained the bubbly energy by performing one of their first singles Sweet Nothings a steady-paced dream pop tune, with bright guitar chords and an impressive vocal range from Reardon. We were treated to I’m Your Dog, an indie-rock ballad that is incredibly personal and emotional and is the first single released of their three-song EP, High Tide. Aside from its catchy chorus, it features a melancholic tone with lovely, subtle melodic lines that are embroidered with impressive guitar work that features vocals from both Reardon and Harbison.
I was happy to find out that each member decided to take the lead as composer and lyricist on their respective song, as every song that was produced from this experiment has a unique style and composition. While Coastline Grass Club maintain their cohesive sound, its zestful mix has become even more vibrant thanks to its new creative method. It’s a bold move from the band but a brave one, to say the least. This unique creative process allows Coastline Grass Club to discover their cohesive sound whilst attracting a variety of listeners.
Overall, it was a night of celebrations! The boys put together a fantastic show and I was beyond impressed with its success. It was a wholesome evening that not only recognised Coastline Grass Club but the Dublin music scene and the artists that encompass this tight-knit community. I hope that they plan another event in the near future to keep the Dublin music scene thriving.
Coastline Grass Club’s EP High Tide is set to be released on all streaming platforms this coming Friday, March 29th.
