The final outdoor gig of last weekend's Heineken Green Energy Festival didn't quite go off with a bang, but certainly ended with a pleasant burst of Welsh pop exuberance. Monday's triple-header at Dublin Castle began with the much-hyped Gay Dad, led by former journalist Cliff Jones, who unleashed their stomping anthem, To Earth With Love, and unveiled their new single, Joy, for the happy masses.
The Cardigans played a somewhat low-key set, interspersing their upbeat hits with some of the more sluggish fare from the new album, Gran Turismo. In contrast, Catatonia seemed determined to rock the Castle, opening with the seditious Storm The Palace, the gritty voice of Cerys Matthews ringing loudly around the courtyard, as she urged the crowd to "turn 'em into flats, make 'em all ex-pats." I Am The Mob kicked down all remaining resistance, while Game On saw Cerys turn on the Welsh charm, and Dead From The Waist Down seduced all and sundry.
The rest of the band played their faceless supporting roles with aplomb, giving Cerys' larger-than-life personality free rein to canter all around the stage. You've Got A Lot To Answer For was followed by a diplomatic interlude of Cockles & Mussels, and a final, triumphant triple-whammy of Road Rage, Strange Glue and Mulder & Scully. OK, so the Earth didn't quite move, but it definitely gave a pleasant rumble.
