The Irish rock band Cardinals were playing a gig at London’s Moth Club last year when frontman Euan Manning – about to kick off their song “The Burning of Cork” – remarked on a portrait of Winston Churchill hanging backstage along with the venue’s array of British army memorabilia. “Some guy in the crowd was like, ‘Whoop!’” his brother, accordionist Finn, says with a groan. “Poor English kid,” Euan murmurs. Talk about not reading the room.
Awkward moments aside, Cardinals are enjoying their position at the forefront of Ireland’s burgeoning cultural renaissance. With Fontaines DC’s Grian Chatten among their prominent champions, the band are now on the cusp of releasing their debut album, Masquerade – it’s a smart, bold record that examines themes of faith, identity, love and brutality. “We would have preferred to release fewer singles, to be honest, and leave a little more mystery there,” Euan says drily. “But the industry has its say as well.”
