modernlove. @ Mercury Lounge
NEW YORK CITY, NY - March 4th, 2023
Modernlove., an up-and-coming indie band from Ireland, has been stealing hearts across the U.S. The band rose from childhood friendships, and their unbreakable bond has taken them across the nation on tour. Consisting of four members, Barry Lally (vocals/guitar), Graham Fagen (guitar), Daniel Rooney (bass), and Cian McClusky (drums), they each come together to create the perfect four-leaf clover.
With over a hundred thousand monthly listeners, as well as songs racking up millions of listens, Modernlove. sold out the Mercury Lounge on March 4th. New York City was lucky to have them.
With the venue full of chattering bodies and club music blasting out of the speakers, fans flooded to the front towards the stage, pushing forward for a better view, while other people stood by the bar and took a more casual approach waiting for the gig to start.
The group made their way down the side of the room, on stage with a classic boy band demeanor and attitude. As they prepared for their set, grabbing their instruments, the crowd erupted into cheers.
The moment the drums kicked in, the uneven rows of bodies in the audience began to move in closer to the stage. The whole band kicked in and played together, very well connected and with good group chemistry, a reflection of their relationship as childhood friends.
Lally had a smooth, naturally talented voice and control. Modernlove. together seemed very passionate and excited to be touring and in New York City at the Mercury Lounge, the place where many creatives have flourished, seemingly to be on the same road.
Throughout their sets the group had solid harmonies, blending so well together. Rooney was a solid musician and had an eye-catching stage presence. His bass lines were very present in the songs and made their way through the audience’s ears and into their heads, being the instrument that stood out.
During “Ruin Your Night,” the crowd cheered and shouted; one person’s voice cut through the rest, shouting, “This is my number one Spotify song!” The crowd was excited to be hearing this one live, with audience members singing the words out clearly with the lead singer. The instrumental break of the song was a great addition that added depth and excitement to the show.
The downtime between songs was filled by Lally. He talked to the audience and asked questions, those small interactions made the gig a personal experience and made it seem like the band was genuinely excited about this show and wanted to hear from their fans.
Finishing their second-to-last song, Lally spoke into the mic that it was a “dream to be in New York.”
To end the set, they performed “Follow You”, their most popular song, with over a million streams on Spotify. Clapping along in unison to the bridge, smiles came over the band member’s faces watching the spectacle.
Pulling out his phone, Lally huddled his bandmates together for a group selfie. Snapping a picture with the crowd in the background, the band and the audience posed and energetically captured the night.
Thanking the crowd and exiting the stage, Modernlove. left the crowd with their hearts full.
Check out Off the Record Press’ photo gallery of the show here.
WORDS BY EMMA HUG ROSENSTEIN
Photo by Alex Ayala