NewDad, a Galway-based band, has a reputation for being heavily influenced by alternative rock pioneers such as Pixies, Sonic Youth, and My Bloody Valentine. In their first performance at the Electric Picnic festival, these nods to the past were very much visible, including a cover of a Cure hit.
However, despite these recognisable influences, NewDad successfully blends them into a sound that is uniquely their own. Their style combines the ambience of a youthful party with the gloom and ironic suffering of Ireland’s western regions.
Their indie melancholy comes as a welcome escape from the harsh reality of life, ever more so with the impending performance of headline act Gerry Cinnamon. If you chanced upon their performance at the All Together Now event two weeks earlier, this might seem familiar.
NewDad, nonetheless, diffused these potential distractions to deliver an enchanting performance. It was passionate, thoughtful, and had a cloudy atmosphere created by intricate guitar riffs. Their music is centred around the vocals of guitarist and lead singer, Julie Dawson. Her sweet yet potent vocals cut through the dreariness of their first song, Drown, and clash with the Kim Deal-style resonant bass on Sickly Sweet.
Their rendition of The Cure’s Just Like Heaven added a more intense layer of sorrow to Robert Smith’s original, sentimental lyrics. Following this, their performance of Spring exhibited a lively tune.
NewDad’s journey since being assembled in the Leaving Cert class at Coláiste Iognáid in Galway has been quite a rollercoaster. They have received praise from NME and featured in BBC’s recent Glastonbury coverage. Truly an unexpected turn of events, their debut album, “Madra” – particularly Joshua Gordon’s damaged porcelain doll cover, has sparked a meme revolution in China.
NewDad’s fame saw a sudden surge, with concerts completely booked and fans echoing our songs, it was a surreal experience,” the band revealed in a recent interview. Wrapping up their set with the LP’s headline song, the atmosphere was ethereal; Dawson initiated the audience’s collective participation by spurring them to mimic the title’s action – a unanimous husky cry. As the crowd echoes with feral cries, the music transitions with striking guitar play. Drawing a parallel to The Cure’s observation, this moment had an unmistakable touch of independent music bliss at Stradbally.