Although we’re not ones to blow our own collective trumpet, we have to admit to feeling pretty chuffed after our special Love:Live Music show at the Mercantile on Dame Street last Friday night. With the venue packed full of State readers, writers and friends, the three bands did us proud. Take The Money & Run proved that their status as one of our Faces Of 2010 was very much deserved, while The Cast Of Cheers blew us away with a short set of pure brilliance. The fact that they’ve only played a handful of live dates so far is simply staggering – they’re surely set to become one of the bands of the year.

As announced on our Twitter feed earlier that day, we were very proud to have a special guest in the form of Kyp Malone from TV On The Radio and Rain Machine. Stranded in Dublin thanks to this volcano business, his four song performance was simply one of those unrepeatable moments – turning a great night into something unique.

All of which left Super Extra Bonus Party to take us home in blistering fashion. Complete with a guest appearance from May Kay of Fight Like Apes (who had literally just dropped by), they proved once and for all that they’re not only one of the most underrated bands in Ireland but a live act second to none.

Photos by Damien McGlynn. / Thumbnail image by Sean Conroy.

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