Colm O’Mahoney & The Hot Touches – Damage (2024)
As a child, Irish singer-songwriter Colm O’Mahoney’s passion for music was a dim spark as he defied his older brothers slyly listening to their record collections, spent hours listening to the radio of the time (yep, no streaming just radio), and discovered new sounds after travelling quite far to purchase records and tapes; however, it was Live Aid that sent the passion flame aflicker. Inspired by Queen’s historic performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert, it was Freddie Mercury who lured O’Mahony to the world of musicians, but a Bruce Springsteen concert sealed the deal. O’Mahony shares “I’m not a spiritual person but seeing Bruce Springsteen was the closest thing I’ve ever had to a spiritual experience. I was converted immediately, and it completely changed the direction of my life…”
Influenced by 1980s rockers like Springsteen and Mercury, Colm O’Mahony & The Hot Touches exude Irish charisma and confidence but with demure humility. On their self-titled debut album, the lads shift from enigmatic rock songs to smooth, subdued heartbreaking ballads. Four years after the album’s release in 2020, the Irish group release the single ‘Damage’.
While ‘Damage’ is a track off the band’s debut album, Colm O’Mahoney & The Hot Touches return to the scene with this intriguing song. From the outset, a rush of vintage rock oozes from the melody. Trapped in a rush of sound, pounding drums and scorching guitars wrap you in a smooth musical blanket. Yet, while soothing with melodic caresses on your face, there is a distorted brashness slicing across in the hard-hitting classic rock guitar solos. Powerful riffs crash to send you reeling, but also hold you in a warm embrace.
Lilting toward Bruce Springsteen with his gruff vocals, O’Mahoney’s gritty tones exude raw vulnerability. Interestingly, it is this grittiness that inserts a live session feeling to ‘Damage’; so, while you listen through speakers, the full arrangement is like watching a confident performance from the comfort of your home.
In addition to the single, Colm O’Mahony & The Hot Touches released an official music video for ‘Damage’. You can view the video below or on their YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Colm O’Mahony & The Hot Touches on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurators
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