One of the greatest tragedies of Irish music towards the end of the 20th century, A House were the nearly men of their time. Deserving of so much more than the almost universal critical acclaim they regularly garnered for their recorded output, A House were also a fantastic live act. Formed in 1987 and part of an alumni graduated from the now defunct Underground venue on Dame Street in Dublin that included Something Happens! and Stars Of Heaven, A House quickly built up a following of loyal and obsessive fans. Six albums, four Eps, twelve singles and three record companies later they decided to call it a day by playing a final farewell gig in the Olympia Theatre also on Dame Street just yards from their starting point in The Underground. Unlike many previous farewell shows and tours from other acts, most notably Status Quo, A House's integrity meant that this was the real deal. After this we would never see them or their like again, tickets sold out rapidly and the scene was set.
Suitably charged with emotion the band started with their debut single 'Kick Me Again Jesus' and began to chart a course through their career and large back catalogue. Made all the more tragic by the realization with each gem of a song/memory that we were witnessing the demise of one of the greats. Family members videotaped the performance for posterity from the beautifully ornate private boxes of the theatre, a visual memento and record to show future generations the adoration that their dad once commanded. Tears were shed openly by grown men and women as they finished with the achingly poignant 'When I Last Saw You' and that was that. Gone as a live act forever though nostalgia saw the release of a best of collection entitled 'The Good Old Days' five years later in 2005, you would do your music collection a service to add this album to it, especially the double disc version including the rarer tracks of their career. If you want to know more about this marvelous band check out this exhaustive and informative fansite. Here's one of my favourites, from their debut album, "I'll always be grateful", and I will.
Suitably charged with emotion the band started with their debut single 'Kick Me Again Jesus' and began to chart a course through their career and large back catalogue. Made all the more tragic by the realization with each gem of a song/memory that we were witnessing the demise of one of the greats. Family members videotaped the performance for posterity from the beautifully ornate private boxes of the theatre, a visual memento and record to show future generations the adoration that their dad once commanded. Tears were shed openly by grown men and women as they finished with the achingly poignant 'When I Last Saw You' and that was that. Gone as a live act forever though nostalgia saw the release of a best of collection entitled 'The Good Old Days' five years later in 2005, you would do your music collection a service to add this album to it, especially the double disc version including the rarer tracks of their career. If you want to know more about this marvelous band check out this exhaustive and informative fansite. Here's one of my favourites, from their debut album, "I'll always be grateful", and I will.
