El Diablo – The Annesley House – Live Review – 28/08/26

Back in the early 2000s, El Diablo recorded a pair of albums that fit loosely into what was known at the time as ‘alt-country’, a genre steeped in Americana which got considerable attention back then. The band consisted of Anna Carey, Patrick Freyne and Pól Ó Conghaile. Since that time, Anna Carey and Patrick Freyne have been making waves in journalism and have both published books in recent years, while Pól Ó Conghaile is the Travel Editor at the Irish Independent.

Fast forward to 2026 and the band were playing a charity gig, their first in 22 years!  Support came from A. Smyth, who played new and old songs solo on guitar in between hilarious anecdotes about how little tolerance his 5-year-old son has for his music!  Bombs Away and I Can Be Your Telephone were pleasant enough, and the plaintive I Love You had some of the passion of mid-period Tim Buckley, before finishing with the fingerpicked River.

El Diablo opened their set with Maryland Bed, and for many there it was like being transported back to the early 2000s as they played practically all of debut album 23rd Psalm Café.  While Carey and Freyne took most of the vocal duties on the likes of Bellies With Gold, Ó Conghaile played some very fetching guitar lines, as well as taking the lead vocal on Jerusalem Hills.  Songs like Wandering One and My Wild Rose were really well received, as were the more uptempo likes of Boyfriend and Shitkickers Inc.  As well as covers of Love Hurts and These Boots Are Made for Walkin’, they paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton with a rendition of Jolene.  The band could do no wrong on the night, even throwing in a new song, which was well received.  Take Me Down featured some gorgeous harmonies from Anna Carey and Patrick Freyne, and they rounded off the night with a couple of singalong songs, including Folsom Prison Blues.

A very enjoyable evening of music which, although mostly from the past, sounded as fresh and timeless as the first time around.