Much has been said over the years about Whelan’s on Camden Street – and rightfully so – but not enough has been said yet about Eppie, who we saw there in September. Watching them, it’s hard to describe them as anything but loads of fun. From frontwoman Palomi’s white boots under the venue’s warm lighting to the band’s natural swing, the vibe is strikingly retro. At once, the atmosphere in the room shifted to that of a concert during the ‘summer of love’. 

The music is a breezy cut of indie rock, which frontwoman Palomi Mac Donald describes most often as ‘hopeful’. Within the group, two members are jazz students, and this shines through in the precise and considered manner with which Eppie’s songs are written.

Palomi’s lyrical style caught our attention, and we sat down with her to learn more about the band. Eppie is a group formed almost by chance—Palomi met guitarist Eoin Roebuck and drummer Daniel Dennehy at a show she decided to go to by flipping a coin – call it fate or coincidence, but things just seem to fall into place for them. Onstage, they are well-matched, focused, and all clearly enjoying themselves. Any musicians will know bassists often adopt a pseudo-moody persona, but Donagh Kelly gave an engaging performance, with clear skill and passion for his craft. It’s rare to see a bassist smile as much as he did.   

Bands are best built on strong foundations. The group itself is named after Palomi’s younger sister. When we asked her why, she told us, “I started out playing open mics and I didn’t want the band to be ‘Palomi’.” We can see that the group dynamic is integral to the sound – The choice to make music with others, to be ‘Eppie’ and not ‘Palomi’, a full group of passionate musicians. We asked Palomi what the band’s dream rider includes – Special K cereal for the lads, a nod to their song ‘Special K Evenings’, and a sit-down dinner in the green room, in keeping with the band’s tradition of a monthly “Eppie Dinner.” It takes place at Palomi’s – “the lads come over and Eoin always takes over the cooking.”

Eppie is driven not only by a close friendship, but by a broader creative force. We asked Palomi to describe their latest release, ‘Sunbathing in Winter’, and she told us about its inspiration, written on a trip to see her childhood friend Ella. “When I was four, I had this chest infection, and the reason I got it was because Ella was like ‘Let’s take off our coats,’ in the yard, and sunbathe. Meeting her again kind of felt like doing that.” When her dad asked if she’d follow Ella off a cliff, she said she would. Palomi has a great eye for nostalgia, and a knack for storytelling. An upcoming track, “Listening to Charm”, is written similarly. It describes the band’s trip to Portugal, listening to Clairo’s Charm, on the beach. More specifically, it’s about coming home and telling her sister about it all. Their music has a clear summer atmosphere. Eppie is a band to see if the seasonal depression gets you down and you need a glimpse back to sunshine. You can catch Eppie at The Next Big Thing in January. 

Shows at Whelan’s are always enjoyable, but the upstairs venue has a certain je-ne-sais-quoi. The room is addictively cosy, with wood panelling behind the stage and a friendly staff, and if you’re lucky enough to be there Monday through Wednesday, you’ll catch the silent disco after hours (but you probably already have – it’s riddled with Trinity students). 

After battling through the first storm of the autumn, running into a dozen friendly faces in the smoking area, and queueing for the first drink of the night, we caught the second half of Larabel’s set. The stripped-back performance was a departure from her usual style, but her haunting solo vocals had the room in a tight hold throughout. Eppie played second, as latecomers filed in, and that’s when the dancing started. Finally, Arabú, an old favourite of ours playing in a new arrangement, began an eclectic set. Their music is hard to describe, but heavy, and wholeheartedly worth seeing. The sound is unique, but the main pull for us is their intensely involved live performance. 

All three acts, in different ways, were perfect to warm up on a miserable stormy night. We really enjoyed getting to know Eppie a little better, and if you’re stuck on the next rainy day, see what’s on upstairs in Whelan’s.