Gig: Paddy Hanna in Whelan's

When all is lost, park in a petrol station and look to the sky

The last two weeks have been fairly Paddy Hanna centric for me. Last Friday I reviewed his fifth album Oylegate on RTE Arena, as well as OK Go and Bon Iver’s new ones, alongside journalist Eoin Glackin. And just a note to say I’ll be reviewing albums on RTE Arena again this evening. Spoiler: I’m giving five stars to the gorgeous new one from Julien Baker and Torres. It’s out today. Give it a spin if you want to crack open your heart.

But back to Paddy Hanna. Sung from the depths of an under lair built out of self doubt and soaring out to a galaxy far, far away, Oylegate is a very special album. This is the album Hanna made just after he decided to give it all up. But an intervention of fate came along, in the shape of arts funding, a pep talk from his father and wife and a revelation at a petrol station in Co. Wexford, and has resulted in an album that could very well change the trajectory of Hanna’s career.

Last night, I saw him play in Whelan’s. Having never seen him live before - my only previous experience with Hanna was interviewing him for a panel on mental health in the arts in 2019 - and my God. The humour! The moves! The love in the room! The made up raps on the spot to people chanting his name! This man is a national treasure. Buy the album - maybe even on vinyl for that extra crunch - play it on repeat, and then make sure you see him live.

It was also my first time to be in Whelan’s since 2020. It’s a venue I will always love but one that I usually avoid because it’s such a bottleneck when you’re in a wheelchair, especially at gigs.