Pillow Queens, the indie-pop ensemble from Dublin, lit up the twilight at Iveagh Gardens with one of their most significant performances to date. A charged blend of bold guitar and gentle melodic hooks, band member Pamela Connolly muses that their songs carry a tinge of melancholy, a sentiment endorsed by her fellow vocalist, Sarah Corcoran.
Even though the music of Pillow Queens does not transcend any defined genre limits, it exudes traditional indie rock vibes that oscillate between intense build-ups and touches of poignant melancholy that spiral into intense emotive whirlpools. However, they do this with an exceptional flair. Their vibrant music stems from their life as part of Ireland’s modern queer community and resonates influences from Tegan and Sara, Big Thief, and Boygenius.
The connection with Boygenius goes beyond mere influence. The frontwoman of Boygenius, Phoebe Bridgers, has been a performing platform for the Pillow Queens. Collaborating with Collin Pastore, producer for Boygenius, the band’s recent extended play, Name Your Sorrow, was created.
This latest work reflects on separation and lamentation, largely influenced by Connolly’s break-up with her long-term partner. The album also boasts a novel element: a discovered “lost sonnet” by the late writer from Killiney, Eavan Boland, titled Atlantis. This poem, which suggests mitigating the pain of loss by being present in the moment (with Atlantis acting as a metaphor for irrevocable loss), resonated deeply with the themes of their album.
The concert kicked off with an audio rendering of Boland’s poem, followed by the delicate rhythm of February 8th. This piece beautifully displayed Connolly’s emotive vocals that share a tonal similarity with Boygenius’ Lucy Dacus and Brittany Howard from Alabama Shakes.
The band’s joy at performing in front of such a significant and lively audience is evident. The tracks they perform, despite their somber undertones, draw heavily on their Irish roots, particularly Dublin. They especially showcase this with the stunning track, Donaghmede, expressing their affection for several renowned figures from North Dublin, including Damien Dempsey and members of B*Witched.
Pillow Queens’ signature sound combines mournful feelings with forceful guitar riffs and ingenious melodies — a balance between breezy, playful tunes and more serious ones. HowDoILook, the catchy song from their inaugural 2020 album, In Waiting, features Corcoran’s notable lead vocals and is among the many memorable numbers.
For their encore, the band circles back to their Dublin roots, finalising the set with Liffey, an energetic lamentation akin to a Radiohead performance led by Florence and the Machine. As the evening sets in, shrouded by artificial fog, they graciously exit the stage, their beaming smiles indicating the tremendous success of the largest concert of their careers.