Cardinals Bring “Masquerade” to Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia
Updated: 6 minutes ago
Irish rockers Cardinals delivered a blistering set in Philadelphia, playing to a packed room at Johnny Brenda’s. Johnny Brenda’s is known for being a pit stop for many bands on their way to greatness. And listening to Cardinals fill the room with their blend of gritty rock, I had the feeling that they were also destined for bigger stages.
For one, they looked quite cramped on stage. The quintet were scrunched together, with Darragh Manning tucked away in the back on drums, Aaron Hurley on bass, Oskar Gudinovic on guitar, Euan Manning holding down vocals and guitar, and Finn Manning perched on a stool playing accordion.
Nevertheless, the limited space only made the band feel bigger. They describe their sound as rock and roll music, but there is a darker, grittier edge running through it. Their lighting throughout the set reflected that, with JB’s lit in a dark, menacing red.
Their set opened with “Twist and Turn,” a song from Cardinals’ 2024 self-titled EP, and one that has endured as a fan favorite. From there, they moved through all of Masquerade, their debut album released this February. The album balances some brighter melodies with darker and more anxious moments, with the accordion cutting through echoing guitars to give the record a distinctly Irish feel.
“Big Empty Heart” was one of the songs from the new album that stood out. The track felt larger than the room, with the accordion adding to the song’s uneasy, melancholic quality while the rest of the instruments seemingly swarmed around it in a frenzy. Other songs like “As I Breathe” had a softer tone, and that contrast was interesting to hear live. Their songs moved between something tender and something considerably more abrasive without losing the thread between the two.
By the time Cardinals reached the end of the set, the cramped stage seemed almost beside the point. There was barely enough room for five musicians, an accordion and all of the noise they were making, but that intimacy worked in their favor. Johnny Brenda’s may be a fitting room for a band still building its audience, but Cardinals already sounded like they were testing the limits of it.
Cardinals will be on the road for the next couple of months, with more U.S. dates in September, before they head back to Europe in October and November. See their full tour dates and find more information here.
Cardinals | by Emma Zoe Polyak for Zany Waves Cardinals | by Emma Zoe Polyak for Zany Waves Cardinals | by Emma Zoe Polyak for Zany Waves Cardinals | by Emma Zoe Polyak for Zany Waves Cardinals | by Emma Zoe Polyak for Zany Waves Cardinals | by Emma Zoe Polyak for Zany Waves Cardinals | by Emma Zoe Polyak for Zany Waves Cardinals | by Emma Zoe Polyak for Zany Waves
