WORDS AND IMAGES DESH KAPUR
In 1990 I fell in love with a song i heard blasting out of a car stereo. That song was “Don’t Go”. Two days later, I tracked down the album the song was from and fell in love with a band. The album was People and the band were Hothouse Flowers. For the next 4 years Hothouse Flowers perfect blend of Irish Rock, Folk, Soul Blues and Gospel was the soundtrack for my adventures. Sunny days with beautiful people, listening to uplifting music; halcyon days indeed.
Street buskers and childhood friends, Liam O Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin, were later joined by Peter O’Toole to form Hothouse Flowers. After writing and performing together over a 12-month period, Rolling Stone declared them the best-unsigned band in the world in 1986.
So tonight, for me, was a special night with a special band and they didn’t disappoint. A perfect venue, small and intimate, the band were musically as tight as a band should be after playing together since they were teenagers. Liam O Maonlai’s voice was as beautiful and engaging as it was when I last saw them play in Australia over 25 years ago, but with all that said, it was the joy the band were putting out, the togetherness of the band members and of course the songs, that made this night special.
“Don’t Go”, “Isn’t It Amazing” and “Be Good ” still stand the test of time and are as powerful as they were when they were first recorded. Throw in a delicate lilting Irish folk song or two, the brilliant Johnny Nash cover “I Can See Clearly Now”, “You Can Love Me Now”, “It Will Be Easier In The Morning” and it was perfection, for me and all the believer’s gathered here tonight, everyone sang at the tops of their voices, it was like Karaoke with the backing band being the Hothouse Flowers, these sort of gigs are special.
Hothouse Flowers are one of the great Irish bands and in my humble opinion they recorded 3 of the best Irish albums of all time with “People”, “Home” and “Songs From The Rain” and should be hailed with the same regard as such bands as U2, The Pogues and the legendary Van Morrison.
I have nothing left to say now except thank you for the memories xx
SET LIST
1/ An raibh tú ar a’ gcarraig
2/ I Can See Clearly Now
3/ Isn’t It Amazing
4/ Good For You
5/ Easier In The Morning
6/ You Can Love Me Now
7/ Be Good
8/ Movies
9/ Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore (Paul Brady)
10/ Peace Tonight
12/ Stand Beside Me (with guest dancers)
13/ This Is It (Your Soul)
14/ Don’t Go
– –
12/ Three Sisters (with Clare Sands)
14/ Sì do mhamo í (with Clare Sands)
FOLLOW HOTHOUSE FLOWERS
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
