Damian likes the “luke” of Jack
Hailing from Athy, Co Kildare Jack Lukeman or Jack L is an Irish singer songwriter who now performs solo but previously played intermittently with art rock band Serious Women.
He arrives on stage to quite rapturous applause with guitar in hand and kicks off tonight`s set with “Diamond Daze” from his last release, the superb `Mighty Days.` Another cut from this offering follows with the quite wonderful and infectious “King of Soho” and he has the audience singing along.
Although he is an artist as unique as Ireland has ever produced, I thought his voice reminded me of the brilliant Cathal Coughlan of the legendary Microdisney and Fatima Mansions. His voice is really brought to the fore when he follows on with a version of “Ol` Man River” a show tune from the 1927 musical `Show Boat.` A song he heard his Dad sing when he was a child. His rendition was quite breath-taking.
“Little Man” is a tune that he is famous for in Ireland and he asks the audience to stand and give out some primal screaming when he gets to the chorus of `Your release`. Amazingly they do. Tonight`s short set ends with what I think is “Rooftop Lullaby” sang and played with the accompaniment of a small squeezebox. I didn`t manage to get to see Mr Lukeman the last time he visited our city but I was delighted to catch him this evening.
