NewDad's first headline tour comes to Cardiff
Words: Ciaran Hiscox
Photos: Ceirios Bebb
★★★★☆
NewDad's first headline tour brought their brand of ethereal, ambient, indie rock to the Tramshed stage.
The Galway band brought fellow Irish musicians Cardinals in support. Cardinals kicked off the night bathed in the colour of the band's namesake. From the first note of the guitars and the tap of the tambourine, my attention was grabbed by 'Twist and Turn.' Once the band reset, they introduced an instrument I was very excited to see how they incorporated into their post-punk sound, an accordion. This is when the band not only played their lead single Masquerade from their upcoming album of the same name, but also started to interweave traditional Irish folk elements into the band's sound.
Photo: Ceirios Bebb
The band expertly blended genres, offering a concoction of shoe-gaze and post-punk, with a melancholic Irish folk undertone, leading off with ‘Big Empty Heart’ and ‘Roseland’ before switching back to a more industrial sound with "Unreal" and ‘Amphetamines’. Ending their sets on the highs of the newly released ‘The Burning Of Cork’, upping the tempo to only bring it back down with a brooding accordion lead intro joined with afflicted vocals of ‘If I Could Make You Care’, ending with a sober and emotionally impactful set. I was made an instant fan this night, even buying the band's vinyl from the lead singer himself while discussing his first time in Wales.
The crowd waited in baited anticipation, and NewDad entered the stage. The band appeared as silhouetted figures, backlit by soft light, until the dreamy electronic lofi-esque keys of ‘Other Side’ eased us into the lilting vocals of the lead singer, Julie Dawson. The song easily transitions into an assured performance of ‘Heavyweight’, highlighting their stage presence and lyrical prowess, the melodic and aggressive sides of their sound.
Photo: Ceirios Bebb
Keeping up the upbeat energy, they played ‘Entertainer’, which helped set up the 90s-inspired dream-like atmosphere. At this point, the crowd was under the influence of the band, which was capitalised on the moment with a well-paced shift to the fan favourite ‘Sickly Sweet’ from their debut album ‘Madra’. Whose distorted guitars got the crowd moving while hanging on every dark yet lively line of the lyrics.
From ‘Sickly Sweet’ to homesick ‘Pretty’, explores the band's adoration for their home, Galway, it juxtaposes beautifully from their last song into a sweeter, more hopeful, emotional core. Their performance painted a landscape that felt very close and out of reach, brought to life by Julie’s emotional delivery.
Maintaining the wistful atmosphere, they play ‘Something Broken’, the final track off their new album, walking us through an emotional journey of vulnerability and reflection. ‘Let Go’ followed and showcases the best of NewDad, balancing a darker atmospheric indie rock and shoe-gaze genre, highlighted by dark ethereal vocals, which live was a great thing to experience.
Photo: Ceirios Bebb
‘Puzzle’ was a personal favourite, with a brooding siren calling effect on me, keeping me entranced throughout the duration. The energy and pace dipped with the following two songs, with ‘Everything I Wanted’ and ‘Mr Cold Embrace’ finishing these two songs with a slower, sombre string-led line that balances on the border of melancholic or hopefulness, supported with a calming undertone. NewDad opened a window into the past as they played their oldest song of the night, ‘Blue’, released in 2020. Hearing it live showed how far they’ve come in both production and confidence, merging their newer influences with their early sound.
After a reflective run of slower songs, NewDad dramatically picked up the tempo with their heaviest sound of the night, ‘Misery’. Its fuzzy guitars and dynamic intensity electrified the room. Sinking Kind of Feeling slowed the pace again before the band briefly left the stage. They returned to encore ‘Angel’, which immediately captured the crowd again. Julie stepped down to the front row to sing with fans, while the rest of the band displayed infectious chemistry.
They closed the show with ‘Roobosh’, a single from Altar. The song brought a raw, exasperated and angry chaotic energy to the end of the show; each band member felt like they were taking all their pent-up emotions out during this song, leaving it all on stage. After the show, Julie stayed behind to meet fans and take photos. I was lucky enough to chat with her, complimenting their performance and sharing how much I enjoyed it.
NewDad were excellent live. Julie Dawson’s voice entranced me throughout the night. If I were a sailor and she were a siren, I would drown. Combining her vocals with the rest of the band created a dark, dreamy experience that you need to feel live.