Lyrics and Life

Amistat - The Academy, Dublin, Ireland 25/03/24

What an amazing uplifting soul elevating show!

Amistat - The Academy – Dublin, Ireland - 25th March 2024 - Lyrics and Life

So there was an energy to this concert that I can only describe as uplifting and soul infusing. It started with the venue announcing that the bands flight got cancelled earlier that day and that they had literally just arrived at the venue and where just starting their sound check. So by the time they came on stage we were all ready. As soon as they hit that first note the whole energy in the room shifted. Their energy and what they brought to the gig was so powerful. Their togetherness, their gratitude for the opportunity to perform. Their honesty around their creative process and their journey so far all of it added to the electric vibe that rippled through the whole show. There was no lull, just song after song of high energy and good vibes.

Amistat

This was the highlight of the show. Two guys with amazing voices and one guitar.

Whats special about Amistat? There is something about harmony and two singers singing in harmony that creates a wholely different energy and sound. And Amistat have a very special sound. And it vibrated around the audience “Anew” was the song for me that really elevated that energy. Then came “Build a Home” and the songs kept coming and all the songs had the crowd singing along. At one point they even got off the stage and came down to sing in the middle of the audience, just their voices and one guitar, that was something really special.

That is another aspect of live gigs that is so enlivening. When people come together to celebrate music, sing along, and coexist in a musical and creative space. Everything else fades into the background. You exist only in that moment. I think those smaller more intimate gigs are a gold mine for this type of experience.  “Listen to the Silence” was one of those really special tunes that just had such a gentle vibe to it, and to have the crowd sing along to this in a soft gentle way too, was striking. I actually felt so hopeful for mankind being in the moment of that song.

I don’t know about anyone else but what this gig also did is allow you to get up close and personal with the lyrics and the music. While there taking it all in, you go on your own journey of self-reflection and introspection as you ride along with those lyrics and melodies. Maybe that was the power and influence of this group. The melodies where intoxicating and uplifting and carried you along on that journey of self-discovery. It was like riding a beautiful and all embracing wave of love. That is the best way I can think to describe it.

“Better days” took me to a place of reflection of what was and what might need to be, reality and no gaurantees, and that endless hopefulness we can hold onto for better days. And that yeah sometimes we are really just holding on for those better days, we are riding through the storm to get out the other side. And that is so what life is like sometimes.

Amistat’s music really got to the heart of what it is to navigate life, taking what comes and working through it, they motivate and they inspire with their words and their music. Another song that spoke to that is “keep your head up”. Actually I came away from the gig in love with everything about this band. Amistat are a magical gig experience. If you can get to see them don’t let that opportunity pass you by. Trust me you won’t regret it.