Madra Salach Make Their Philadelphia Debut at Johnny Brenda’s
Seeing a band live will always bring something new to the table, whether it’s the spontaneity of their stage banter, the way the musicians work together to expand upon songs, or the crowd’s energy itself feeding back into the music. For Madra Salach, the appeal of their live performances lies in all of the above. They may only have a handful of songs out in the world so far, but their performance at Johnny Brenda’s this Wednesday made it clear that there’s a lot more to the band than what’s currently available to stream.
Filling up the small stage, the six-piece brought together harmonium, tin whistle, mandolin, guitar, bass, and drums to create a sound that feels deeply rooted in Irish folk while leaving plenty of room for experimentation. There is a real sense of movement to their music, with songs shifting between quieter, more atmospheric moments and more intense moments catalyzed by Bank’s commanding vocals.
The band opened with “Searrach,” an unreleased song that is becoming a familiar part of their live sets. The song’s driving beat wasted no time in establishing the energy that would carry throughout their set.
“Searrach,” along with “Bolg” and “Cranes” were exciting previews of their highly-anticipated upcoming album Gorta. Based on what we heard, the anticipation is very much justified.
Between songs, Banks was a natural storyteller, filling silences with jokes, anecdotes, and plenty of personality. Having already made a stop at WXPN's studios earlier in the day, they gave a shoutout to the World Cafe session that first introduced them to many Philadelphia listeners. There were also stories of their Joe's cheesesteak experience, some less-than-generous thoughts about the Liberty Bell, and anecdotes about the songs they played.
Their set contained a couple of covers, including The Pogues’ “Turkish Song of the Damned” and Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.” Madra Salach also played “The Rocks of Palestine,” a song that fellow Irish band Lankum reworked from the traditional Irish song “The Rocks of Brawn.” Rather than feeling like detours, the covers fit naturally into the band’s world, reflecting the influences that inform their approach to folk music. They were also a hit with the crowd, who took to singing along.
They saved “The Man Who Seeks Pleasure” for last, a fitting choice for a song that has become something of a staple closer. Stretching beyond six minutes, it takes on an entirely different life in a live setting. The melancholy at its center feels amplified, with Banks leaning into the song's emotional weight as the instrumental arrangements swelled around him. It was a moving end to a set that had already grabbed the attention of the room.
It was their first time playing in Philadelphia, and with a firmly sold-out show, I’m sure they’ll make their way back stateside. Do yourself a favor, catch them when they do. For now, they still have a couple of shows in New York City and Toronto, before heading back to Ireland to close out the year. Their debut album Gorta releases on January 15, which the band are celebrating with a record store tour in UK and Ireland. See all these dates and more at Madra Salach’s official website.
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