The ideal pub might not scream neon club vibes, complete with a bat sprawled across its walls and the infamous ‘M’—Magnet House’s shorthand—spinning on translucent cubes like a DJ’s fever dream. But that didn’t stop hundreds of Irish folk from dawdling to Perth, WA’s venue, for a singalong Saturday night. Yep, you heard right. No tweens camping out the night before on throwaway mattresses or scarfing down McMuffins against cobblestone walls, proudly sporting giant black-marked numbers on their hands.
If something was on their skin, it was most likely the venue’s stamp, decorating them just as the door opened. Obviously, upon reading the 7.30 p.m. start, they took it to heart, scattering into corners of the room. Yep, different nooks with only a few people thirsty to touch the barricade’s metal, but don’t pout. The natural shoving push through someone just behind you in a pit would be felt later on. Oh, and if you thought it was just fathers with beard oil stashed in their pockets for Movember there, young girls dressed for the perfect Instagram shot stood out, too. But do you know what they say?
Instruction #1: ‘Look At Your Phone’
The Irish love their liquor. And boy, did they live up to the stereotype, making the bar their second home. Enter Conleth McGeary, the support act, clutching a Corona beer—it may be a Mexican import, but an Aussie bloke is more likely to chug one. Spoiler alert: Conleth isn’t one of them, but you could probably sense his Dungannon, Ireland roots from his name. He wasn’t about to let the irony of the moment go unnoticed, quipping, “I’m here drinking Corona, amazing.” We’ll let you in on the joke: the night’s main act was none other than The Coronas.
We’ll try not to take Conleth’s first song, ‘Look At Your Phone,’ as a personal call-out—though, admittedly, most of our night was spent with a glowing screen fit for note-taking rather than swaying them like makeshift torches. To be fair, he’s all for it, warming us up with stories and a touch of first-timer charm, letting us know this is his debut visit to Australia, so he hasn’t studied us enough to copy our accents. (Again, the room’s falling on soft ts; think ‘dis’ not ‘this.’) Still, nothing quite tops ‘Ireland,’ his closing song that feels more like a spirited ‘go-my-home-team’ rallying cry.
Danny O’Reilly’s Like A Puppy With A Guitar
Raise your hands if you’d board Europe’s swanky trains to roam from Ireland to London. Well, The Clash’s ‘London Calling’ is absolutely the tune for that ride, and, of course, we’re the least bit surprised to hear it blasting between sets. Now, we’ll admit that half an hour might not be enough to soak in the city fully, but it’s more than enough time to flip the vibe on its head.
In a puff of blue smoke and a cheeky “Do you feel that we need to breathe in some Perth air?”—which, for the record, Perth’s air doesn’t actually turn blue unless you’re looking up at its sunny sky—during ‘Confirmation.’ We’re in the thick of The Coronas rocking out, and we mean it—lead singer Danny O’Reilly’s practically flirting with the pit, dangling over the edge to give as many high fives as possible. And hey, we’re only two songs in!
There’s a surprise as loud as a saxophone: True Tides member Cian crashes the stage with Danny for ‘Write Our Own Soundtrack.’ And he owns it—grooving his fingers over the keys like he’s auditioning for a jazz club. We’re hooked, memorized, and suddenly, we’re sipping cocktails in a smoky lounge… except, hold up—those spaceship outlines zipping across the floor and the green beams shooting up like celestial rays are a hint that we’re not in a dimly lit club… but somewhere else.
Before we can process it, Danny’s gone. No, really—he leaps into the crowd, jumps the barrier, and struts through the pit until he’s waving from the balcony. It’s ironic, considering he’s belting out ‘Unbelievable Scenes,’ and this is precisely that: him taking selfies with fans.
Pulling The Plug On A Playful Night
It wouldn’t be at an Irish gig without some Celtic flair. A tipsy “Olé, Olé, Olé” swarmed through the venue just before the band again got up for the encore. When they do, there’s something that’s always been there. Still, we’re now noticing the leave-like graphic behind them on the screen during ‘What a Love.’ Corona flowers adorn Danny’s guitar strap, and leaves sprout on his guitar, perfectly matching the bass player Graham Knox’s shirt. They’re departing with the ‘San Diego Song,’ a bona fide hit with eight million streams on Spotify. But, here’s the kicker—it’s not the version that gets us riled up with a nose-splintering applause. Nah, we save that for when we’re wrapped in bed with post-concert blues.
Overall, this was the biggest Perth crowd The Coronas has played to, with Danny’s stage energy as the guiding star. Although there’s a high chance of the band orbiting an even better venue next time, we can’t pass on the homely charm.
Which song of theirs are you dying to hear live? Someone might just have to check your pulse if you don’t hear its chords in the next few minutes. Let us know on our socials, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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