DERMOT KENNEDY SERENADES THE MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG

Projections of muted blues, grays and greens floated across the stage as the raw, raspy, soulful voice of Dermot Kennedy floods the Music Hall of Williamsburg with its greatness. That night I was standing next to a couple who flew up to New York City from Florida just for this show and I was about to find out why.

Dermot Kennedy

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Sunday was the second time the Dublin-based artist performed in New York City – the last time being this summer at Baby’s All Right. This was also his last show on the North American part of his fall tour. It was a special show for him too because of the space he was playing in. “It’s a little bit surreal to play in a room this big,” he said as the crowd erupted in cheers so loud he had to pause before continuing.

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Dermot Kennedy

He sure filled out that room nicely as he played songs off his EP Doves and Ravens. His songs are so powerful and so beautifully written that the emotion that runs through your body as you’re listening is uncontrollable. The combination of light synth and acoustic guitar, mixed with the passion in Dermot’s voice, mesh so well together and create a feeling of almost unexplainable euphoria.

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Dermot debuted a new song that night, “Moments Passed,” that has a more elevated inclusion of electronic and synth sounds while still staying true to his soulful sound.

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He ended the night with “After Rain,” a song, that he explains, is about hopefulness – something that a lot of people in that room, including myself, could use right now. As everyone screamed out, “you won’t go lonely,” Dermot and his band were flying around stage in a fit of passion leaving the crowd breathless and a good amount in tears.