Brimful of energy, masters of the art of cramming every human emotion into 90 minutes of compacted pure joy — no wonder The Coronas are adored by their Cork fans.
This is the third time that I’ve seen this powerful band in the Marquee and somehow they manage to bring a different shade of brilliance with every new sold-out visit.
Tonight they start with a stage-sized pre-roll video of the band backstage walking out to rapturous applause.
Having seven Irish chart-topping albums to choose from, of course, allows for significant changes to the setlist each time. But that only goes part of the way to explaining what sets them apart.
Is it their tuneful blend of rock and pop sat proudly atop a bedrock of trad-influenced dance beats? More than the sum of their parts?
Singing along with The Coronas in concert at Live At The Marquee. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
The showmanship of Danny O’Reilly on guitar, keys and vocals is undeniable. This crowd understandably loves him.
Danny says: “How are you all doing, you beautiful people of Cork? Let’s all do this together. Let me see your hands in the air.”
A sea of hands, competing to bounce giant coloured balloons skyward. Party time.
“Wave your phones,” he says. A sea of light.
“Sing with us,” he says. They know every word.
Corneila Prenderville (centre) celebrating her 30th birthday with Julie O’Sullivan, Edwina Murphy, Mairead McCarthy and Shauna O’Donovan ay The Coronas concert at Live At The Marquee. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
Uniquely bonded to their Irish fans, The Coronas are also adored globally. They go straight from this Marquee show to dates in Vancouver, Canada, and on to US dates in Seattle, San Diego, and San Francisco over the next two weeks.
They’re due to release their eighth album in the autumn, including the recent first single from it, ‘Speak Up’. Everything new and unfamiliar went down a storm on this calm and cool evening. And Danny O’Reilly is generous too.
The Coronas in concert at Live At The Marquee, Cork. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
“I want you to give a big round of applause for our amazing opening act tonight, The Cliffords. The future of Cork music is in safe hands,” he says.
A living, evolving conveyor belt of hits, all their songs are built for performance.
‘San Diego Song’, ‘Give Me A Minute’, ‘Addicted To Progress’, ‘Mark My Words’, ‘Closer To You’, ‘Heroes Or Ghosts’, and ‘Dreaming Again’, among countless others.
What a great night.
The Marquee’s shift of venue is minimal, just across the road to what used to be the Tedcastles Yard. The move has been seamless and painless.
Next up for the Marquee are Gavin James on Saturday, May 25, then Van Morrison on Friday, May 31, with John Bishop, Blk, Damien Dempsey and much more to follow.
Maria Flood, centre, with her daughters Ali and Zara, from Ardfield in West Cork at The Coronas Live At The Marquee concert in Cork. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
Conor O’Callaghan, Aghada, and Chloe Joyce, Ladysbridge, arriving for The Coronas’ Friday night gig at Live At The Marquee in Cork. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
