News / / 23.04.14

Augustines

Trinity Centre, Bristol | 17 April

Striding onstage to a rousing orchestral recording from their self-titled second album, Augustines stand before the masses assembled in the City’s church-cum-concert venue genuinely humbled to be where they are. It is clear from the reaction of frontman Billy McCarthy to the affection received that getting to this stage has been tough. After several previous attempts at finding musical recognition, including his criminally overlooked project Pela, McCarthy must feel vindication in the success he is having with his latest group; initially with a ‘We Are’ prefix, now without.

Launching into a setlist made up of tracks from both their latest record and debut album Rise Ye Sunken Ships, Augustines are full of energy, barely pausing for breath as they bounce from one anthem to the next. The exhilarating Chapel Song is slipped in early and causes the first hands in the air moment for the fans packed into the venue, while Juarez and the Afrobeat/Graceland era Paul Simon-influenced Cruel City also prove early highlights.

And, for the first hour, Augustines brand of early-U2, Springsteen-indebted, emotionally charged stadium Americana holds the gaze of everyone. But it soon goes sour. A full Augustines set betrays how similar many of their tracks are, to the point where they begin to blur into one; the ubiquitous ‘Oh oh oh’ chorus refrains and ambiguous lyrics ultimately pointing to a lack of depth in their songwriting.

Augustines are excellent at what they do, as their burgeoning reputation seems to confirm. The issue is they have just one set formula for writing songs from which they rarely deviate. They are masters of the uplifting chorus and, although great in short bursts, it can all rather quickly become painfully dull.

 

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weareaugustines.com

Words: Benjamin Salt

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