Review: Irish rock band Little Green Cars vary the mood on stage in Dubai

Big-hearted harmonies and democratic instrument-swapping is the key to conjuring Little Green Car's mood of wanderlust discontent.

Irish rock band Little Green Cars performed at McGettigan’s in Dubai on Friday. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Legend has it that The Baggot was one of Dublin’s liveliest music venues. David Bowie, U2, Thin Lizzy, Bob Geldof and Tracey Chapman all performed there during the heyday of the small but spirited space, which was bought in 1969 by Jim McGettigan.

Fast forward 47 years and his son, Dennis McGettigan, is admirably attempting to recreate the same kind of passion and pertinence in his venue of the same name in Dubai – a city rather less renowned for its live music.

Since it opened about two years ago, The Baggot at McGettigan’s JLT has hosted a successful pick ’n’ mix of stand-up comedy, movie nights and private parties – but 2016 might be the year it truly starts to live up to its musical promise.

In recent months the venue has hosted an impressive barrage, including Irish electro-indie act Le Galaxie, as well as South African rockers The Parlotones and Ard Matthews, of Just Jinjer. Sensitive Irish singer-songwriter Gavin James will perform on September 16.

However, The Baggot's most recent booking may be its most promisingly pertinent to date. Performing on Friday night (August 26), the night after a gig at McGettigan's in Abu Dhabi, Little Green Cars arrived in the UAE on the crest of a potentially breaking wave. After striking out with promising debut album Absolute Zero – which earned a spot on annual critics' poll BBC Sound of 2013 – the quintet enjoyed considerable success in the United States, including a national audience in an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

This year, they returned with the markedly more mature and melancholy Ephemera, a record short on radio anthems but with a solidified sombre seriousness that could help to ensure the group's longevity.

The gaping divide in mood between the two records was very evident onstage. Early folk- influenced singles The John Wayne, Big Red Dragon and My Love Took Me Down To The River To Silence Me all provoked at least partial singalongs from a crowd largely made up of Irish expats.

However, the vibe was more often one of moody introspection. This was best epitomised on Ephemera's aching anthem Easier Day – driven by a chillingly lonesome clean guitar hook – and the haunting piano-led Please, both heart-wrenchingly sung by Faye O'Rourke.

She shares lead vocals with Stevie Appleby, whose confessional croon recalls Elliot Smith on the shimmering The Song They Play Every Night. Both singers play guitar, while guitarist Adam O'Regan often disappears to the back of the stage to play keyboards. All four front-line players sing big-hearted harmonies.

This democratic and adept instrument swapping is key to conjuring the ever-shifting pastoral canvases at the heart of Little Green Car’s mood of wanderlust discontent.