GSGC at The Helix. Photo by Paul May.
I started going to Gardiner Street Gospel mass in March. Why? Multiple reasons: I had heard their recordings & warmed to them. I live within walking distance Gardiner St. My head was all over the place, needed some sorting out & I thought “it can’t hurt to try this”.
At the risk of sounding a little nutty, I came out of that church a changed person & I’ve been hooked ever since. I was gleeful when I saw they were doing a gig in The Helix, DCU, partly because it meant a lot more GSGC than you’d get at a mass but mainly because they would reach a wider audience - after all, mass just ain’t everyone’s cuppa 
The gig opened with the fabulous Conor McKeon & The Legends of Swing who got us in the finger-clicking mood with some Rat Pack & Van Morrison tunes. GSGC opened with Pride (U2) and sailed through a fabulous selection of songs from popular (Lovely Day, Harvest for the World, All You Need Is Love) to more traditional gospel territory (I Sings, Joyful Joyful, Bridge Over Troubled Water) with some phenomenal performances from individual members of the choir (as you will hear in my shabby recording below).
Personal highlights included The Sparrow (with a spectacular solo performance by Keeva & Susan Hurley), a cover of the Jewel song Hands (MP3 I recorded is below, apologies for quality) and a beautiful version of the current iTunes & radio hit Show Me What I’m Looking For.
Their energy, enthusiasm & love for what they do is infectious. Everyone was on their feet clapping & singing along and seemed to leave the gig on a fabulous high. Their residency in St.Francis Xavier’s church on Gardiner St continues as normal every Sunday at 7.30 until June 21st.
The gospel mass returns after a break once again in the summer but you can catch them doing a few songs with Conor McKeon & the Legends of Swing at the National Concert Hall on July 2nd. The concert is raising money for the the ’3T’s: Turning the Tide on Suicide’ and can be booked via the website. And if you can’t make either of those well then check out their recordings here on http://music.thegsgc.com. Paul May has some great shots of the gig at The Helix up here on Flickr with video footage to come - can’t wait to see it!
Lovely review. I was devastated to have missed this (poxy job). I’m Susan Hurley’s obsessive fan.
Wow! Great review, thank you so much for the wonderfully positive feedback!
The gig was lots of fun, and I think I speak for the choir in saying we all really enjoyed the gig on Saturday night. This was hugely helped by the fantastic audience and their willingness to participate!
Very glad to hear you enjoyed it, and thanks again for your wonderful reviews and continued support! xxx
@ Joey - cheers, have more tracks from the gig to process & upload.
@ Keeva - thanks you more like! awesome gig, still buzzing
Twas a great gig indeed, loved the versionof Joyful, Joyful and one of my favourite happy tunes ever - Oh Happy Day. That just made my night!