How different it all might have been. The Frank And Walters may modestly acknowledge that they have only one hit, but unlike the majority of their early-'90s contemporaries they refuse to wallow between nostalgia and novelty. Instead they occupy a venerated position as a veteran yet valid band, firmly back in the spotlight after 2006's comeback album A Renewed Interest In Happiness.

Back on home turf for their annual Christmas gig, one suspects that it would be easy for the band to coast through the proceedings; this is Cork after all, and the city's favourite sons can seemingly do no wrong. Certainly the beginning is low-key, with front-man Paul Linehan plaintively strumming an acoustic guitar and struggling to retain the attention of the bevvied-up throng. This threatens to undermine the festive atmosphere, but the full band gradually joins him on stage, the line-up bolstered by an additional keyboardist, and eventually launch into the recent single ‘Miles And Miles’, greeted rapturously by the crowd. All concerns are almost instantly rendered obsolete as the roll-call of sumptuous pop tunes that follow propels both band and audience into an increasingly frazzled state.

The key to all this is soon apparent: the band have a unique knack of remaining irreverent to their own endeavours at all times, and they reel through the euphoric triumvirate of “After All”, “Colours” and and “Michael” with customary zest and the obligatory crowd sing-along.

The Frank And Walters are proof of the extent to which a band can leave their audience beaming right on into the New Year.

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Colm McAuliffe