Review: Star Crossed Enemies - a new direction

Since the split of Guillotines, Brian O’Reilly and Gary White have created a new sound for themselves with Star Crossed Enemies. However, this new sound is one that may not be deemed ‘exciting’ enough for gig promoters in Dublin to consider as headline material. The example being used here is the band Green Lights’ final gig on the 27th of February, 2009. The bill for this gig was, in playing order (first to last): Star Crossed Enemies/The Funeral Suits/ and Green Lights.

I have mentioned Star Crossed Enemies and Funeral Suits in earlier posts (gig reviews). I enjoy the music of both bands immensely, despite their differing/contrasting styles. It is always good to mix and match, pick and mix, and any other euphemism you can think of that implies the appreciation of various types of music (in this instance).

So it was with tired anticipation that I approached Whelan’s on Wexford Street (tired because of fatigue; trust the stereotypical college social lifestyle to do that). I had heard good things about Green Lights in the build up, but it was Star Crossed Enemies I was particularly interested in seeing.

The Donaghmede/Malahide two-piece were coming off the back of a two day trip to Limerick, where they played two gigs and recorded a performance for Limerick FM. O’Reilly and White were delighted with the reception they received down in Limerick. They attracted two big crowds, they sold roughly thirteen EPs and were even requested for autographs by a couple of audience members.

It was a big come down, then, to stand on stage upstairs in Whelan’s in front of eight or so people. The sarcasm was rife in O’Reilly’s cry of ‘We’re back Dublin!’ As they progressed through their set, several stragglers moseyed in, catching maybe half of Star Crossed Enemies’ set, or even just a couple of songs.

Star Crossed Enemies perform No Happy Ending in Pravda, a seperate gig to the one reviewed here. Source: ReggieBlinker YouTube channel.

They were warmly received by the small crowd in Whelan’s at the time. However, there was a larger crowd for Funeral Suits and a still larger crowd for Green Lights (naturally, seeing as it was Green Lights' farewell gig). One gets the impression that this is the sort of thing Star Crossed Enemies will need to get used to.

O’Reilly and White are all too familiar with playing in front of just two men and a dog from their days in Guillotines. However, the difference between Guillotines and Star Crossed Enemies is this: Guillotines had songs that, if they had the following their music was crying out for, would have been anthems.

Come What May, Down and Out (written by former Guillotines guitarist Gavin White), and Seventeen were big songs, songs a person cannot ignore while sitting in a bar as they are, literally, in your face. And, of course, there was Early Days & Centuries. This was the song for Guillotines. They went hand in hand. Then it was re-worked by O’Reilly and White and it became the song for Star Crossed Enemies.

Then, they dropped it from their repertoire (also dropping Come What May and Seventeen in the process). An internal discussion decided that Early Days did not fit in with Star Crossed Enemies’ new direction. They did not want to be associated with a solitary song anymore. A brave move, considering Early Days was receiving plenty of airplay on Limerick FM at the time and was second in the download.ie charts.

So now Star Crossed Enemies and Guillotines are indistinguishable. To make comparisons and to choose a preference is unfair and illogical as they come from two different styles of music. Guillotines were louder, more abrasive in parts. Star Crossed Enemies are easier on the ear; some of their music is beautiful.

And herein lies the predicament facing them. They are not, by any stretch of the means, at this moment and time a band that would be considered for a big headline slot in Dublin. The music they create is music promoters like to use to warm up the crowd; time filling music. Bands of a louder, more commercial nature are favoured to headline gigs in Dublin. And, crucially, bands with a more established fan base are favoured to headline gigs in Dublin.

Star Crossed Enemies run the risk of being labelled (unfairly) as boring. Songs like No Happy Ending and Light have a fast rhythm to them, but many of their other songs, like One Thing To Do Before You Die and Mira are slower, softer songs, which is not a bad thing as they are good songs with imaginative and heartfelt lyrics. However, it means they are likely to earn the dreaded opening slot at many of the gigs they play as promoters prefer the bands that are loud and in your face to headline their shows.

Therefore, it makes sense that building up a loyal following is essential for them to make headline slots. However, building up a loyal following requires exposure, which means people seeing them at gigs in their supporting slots now. But if only four to ten people are seeing them a gig, and maybe one, if they are lucky, takes a keen interest in the band, then how long will it take for the twosome to build up the large enough fan base necessary to contest for the bigger headline slots? And, perhaps more importantly, will they have the patience to wait that long?

Knowing O’Reilly and White, headline slots do not interest them. They just wish to reach a wide audience and show them the diversity of their musical pieces. However, the two are not mutually exclusive, and it could be that frustration at failing to reach the wider audience they crave may get the better of them.

Limerick have opened their ears and hearts to Star Crossed Enemies' thought-provoking and beautiful music. Will Dublin do the same? And, if not, will Dublin at least graciously accept the free biscuits O’Reilly and White are offering at their gigs?