Picture This
3Arena, Dublin
★★★★☆
Back in March 2019, Picture This made 3Arena history. The Athy-formed band, fronted by Ryan Hennessy alongside Cliff Deane, Owen Cardiff and Jimmy Rainsford, became the first act to sell out five nights in the Dublin venue. It was an incredible feat, not least for an Irish group. Since then, the hitmakers followed their 2017 debut album and follow up Mdrn Lv – both of which reached the top chart spot in their homeland, with 2021′s Life in Colour, and announced an 18-month hiatus after an intense few years of touring.
Six months ago, the lads signalled their return, announcing fourth album Parked Car Conversations and unveiling five new singles throughout the year. Initially set for a September release, the project has since been pushed back to early 2024. Despite the hold up, Picture This were exuding energy on the first of their two-night stint at the sold out riverside arena. It was a night for OG fans and the TikTok generation alike, with frenzied levels of squealing for Hennessy to take his shirt off (he later obliged). Given how tricky the terrain can be for pop groups in terms of longevity, it felt oddly comforting to see people of all ages there – the Kildare act’s day-one fans have grown up with them while they’ve simultaneously gathered a teenaged contingent with exceptionally loud voices.
With tickets available for Thursday, five nights may be a one-time blaze of glory, but with 400 million streams and two Electric Picnic headline slots under their belt, Picture This has plenty to smile about. Opening the show with Red Lights, Hennessy hit the stage with obvious euphoria, barely able to contain himself from sprinting from one end to the other.
It was a strong choice of up-tempo guitar pop to get everyone alert and moving, with the next two hours featuring a steady stream of Picture This’ Greatest Hits, and a Dublin debut of their latest single Leftover Love. Of course, there were near-feral shrieks of joy when the likes of You & I, Never Change, Winona Ryder and Unconditional appeared on the set list.
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Surprisingly, one of their most powerful moments was not necessarily the ballads (many of which either have Love in the title or Addict, or both in one case), but when Hennessy’s vocals were allowed the space to cut through. A few verses of Irish trad tune The Humours of Whiskey caught the young standing crowd by surprise, but ended up being a standout moment before he belted out the infectiously catchy synth-infused One Drink.
Elsewhere, 2023 single Ireland made an appearance, complete with Hennessy waving a tricolour surrounded by a wall of green lights. It may not be subtle, but the crowd goes wild. “It feels so good to be home,” the 28-year-old says, beaming. It is non-stop heartbreak anthems and upbeat pop bangers until the encore offers Take My Hand for the finale. The frontman’s emotions are fully on show as the deafening roar of the 3Arena shakes the walls with noise. “Thank you for bringing all that energy and love,” he grins, before the endless loyal Olé, Olé, Olé chants usher the quartet offstage, exiting reluctantly. With fans this dedicated, we are sure they’ll be back on that same adored stage soon enough.
