Meeting House Square is Temple Bar’s musical Mecca with different events happening most week this summer. Last night it played host to Porterhouse Live with music, food and beer all on tap. I found shelter from a sultry Dublin Thursday night under the canvas roof of an already full marquee – the crowd settling in for a promising FREE gig by two of Ireland’s biggest soul acts.

Sharing the bill are Mirenda Rosenberg and Mob Fandango with Soul Train DJ Chris Maher providing smooth tunes in between sets. With a Porterhouse Red Ale in hand and a tasty frankfurter straight from the BBQ I took my place at a picnic bench front of stage. This is what Porterhouse Live is all about – friends, music and good times!

First up was the fabulous Mirenda Rosenberg – a soul sensation from Washington DC who not only owns the stage but the dance floor and the audience’s personal space! Oozing charisma Mirenda worked the crowd with her amazing vocal skills and daring dance moves. Showcasing original material from her album “Placeholder” alongside soul classics she launched into a soaring set. Backed up by her fantastic blues band Mirenda sang with seductive ease introducing us to the self penned “Puppet” and “Good Woman”.

Her talent is clear to see and hear as she immerses herself into the lyrics, evoking their meaning through her performance. Mirenda’s a rich experience for all the senses indeed! Bringing her unique brand of soul, funk and blues to the masses since forming her band in 2007, Letterkenny based Mirenda tours regularly throughout Ireland and the UK. Influenced at an early age by the likes of Billie Holliday and Bessie Smith she’s crafted her own memorable stage persona. Mirenda certainly made an impact on Meeting House Square as she poured from the stage into the audience. Dancing on tables she wowed us with her strutting powerhouse vocals off stage. Serenading lucky fans she jived and dueted with a delighted crowd, taking audience participation to a whole new level. A show stopping rendition of “Hallelujah” finished the show on a high. Having opened for the legendary Chuck Berry, Mirenda is surely on the way to becoming a soul star!

Next up, following a mellow interlude with Soul Train DJ Chris Maher spinning the discs, were Dublin’s finest funk collective Mob Fandango. The band sprawled onto the stage and the second leg of Porterhouse Live was good to go as darkness fell over a packed Meeting House Square. Amongst the eclectic crowd I spotted a juggler, a man with a teddy bear companion and a pair of Punks – party time! Fairy lights twinkling and banter flowing the marquee swelled with revellers, some spilling out front of stage ready to groove to the sounds of The Mob. With a line up including trumpet, sax, flute and four vocalists the group of nine NUI Maynooth Music School graduates are a force to be reckoned with!

Having won the Rising Stars Award 2009 Mob Fandango headlined this year’s Dublin City Soul Festival with a stellar performance at the Soul Picnic in Merrion Square Park. Kicking off with Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved” the band revved up for a covers filled set injected with some of their own original material. Crowd pleasers such as Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” and Jamiroquai’s “Cosmic Girl” allowed the band to flex their full soul, funk, reggae and hip hop skills. The atmosphere heated up, rain jackets came off and dancing shoes went on as The Mob stirred up the audience with their own take on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. It was a fitting tribute to the spirit of pop music’s biggest icon. Ripping through their high octane set the band really got into the groove with singers Danny Groenland and Keith Fennell bouncing off each other vocally. An impromptu jamming session provided a break for the pair as the musicians pooled their resources for our listening pleasure.

This is a band that freestyles with such ease that medleys are dreamt up seemingly on the spot. The audience cooled down nicely for a finale of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”. As Mob Fandango sealed the deal, Meeting House Square slowly melted away. After a night of top entertainment I made my way through the city, all danced out and ready for bed. Nights like this make great memories of a truly magical summer in Dublin!

by Lorna Keating

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