NewDad in Melkweg: What separates them from the constantly growing surplus of indie-rock bands?

Written by Connor Frame

NewDad is an indie-rock band from Galway, Ireland, formed in 2018. The band consists of three members: Sean O'Dowd on lead guitar, Fiachra Parslow on the drums, and Julie Dawson on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. Following the recent release of their second album, Altar, they embarked on a tour throughout Europe. On the 14th of October, I attended their concert in Amsterdam, where they performed in Melkweg’s smaller hall, ‘OZ’. With a capacity of 650 people, the venue was completely sold out. The band was set to perform at 9 PM,  with a Dutch band Silverlake as an opening act. 

I have been a fan since I saw the announcement of their concert in Utrecht’s EKKO venue. It was just after they released their debut album ‘Madra’, an album that met great acclaim online and became one of my personal favorites of 2024. The announcement pushed me to listen to their songs ‘Angel’ and ‘White Ribbons’, with the former now having surpassed 15 million streams on Spotify. The sounds of the first record are defined by distorted guitars, which thunder throughout the whole album as an undeniable presence, creating a crackling, charged intensity. The bass follows with heavy effects that emphasize the low end, while the drums produce a simple but undeniable punk-esque groove that ties the sound together. These instrumental motifs reappear on Altar, though perhaps not to the extent I would have expected. It plays like a musical sequel to Madra, but its initial novelty has now faded, and the work borders on formulaic. Put simply, the songs lacked a clear distinction and began to blur together. In my opinion, this impression was only reinforced in their performance in Amsterdam. 

In the first 45 minutes of their hour-long set, they played cuts of their newest album. The charged atmosphere perfectly encapsulated what makes their songs enjoyable. The loud guitar that clashes with the bass in the best way possible, all while heavy cymbals sliced through the mix. From beginning to end, the energy of the band’s performance never wavered. Most songs opened with a distorted riff, either from the guitar or bass, under Julie’s captivating vocals. The energy would build and build until the drums slashed the tension with a heavy bottomed beat, allowing a couple of seconds of pure instrumentals for the frontwoman and audience to headbang. This pattern repeated itself throughout almost all the songs: a steady rise towards a crash, only for the next song to follow the same arc. 

Notably, I was surprised when the lead guitarist dropped his electric guitar in favor of an acoustic one. With a quick tap of his foot, he ran the acoustic through a distortion pedal, transforming the gentler instrument into something just as explosive as what he had just put down. However, their relatively short set allowed for this pattern to never resolve into boredom, which would have definitely been a concern for me if it had spanned any longer. 

After the show, I was left wondering why I enjoyed their music to this extent. Normally, the duplicated guitar licks, simple drums, and recurring motifs are exactly the factors that push me away from continuing to listen to a band. But one factor stood out. My enjoyment in great part came from the voice of the frontwoman, Julie Dawson. Her manner of singing is distinct and stunning. Even with the heavy instrumental competitors that almost entirely envelop her voice, she plays perfectly into the resulting soundscape and creates an atmosphere at the show that feels uniquely hers. It cannot be replicated without her; I believe that the same cannot be said for the other band members. This begs the question: Is the lack of innovation in guitar melodies and drum patterns holding her back? Could she gain more recognition if she pursued a solo career? Yet, I am left wondering again. Dawson seems incredibly comfortable on stage alongside her band members -  a welcome quality for any band that is playing increasingly bigger stages. It was particularly evident when, mid-show, they invited a fan onstage to perform their song ‘Blue’ upon his request. The fan needed a few minutes and much support from the crowd to control his nerves before being able to perform the main riff of the song. It indeed shows the professionalism of the band members performing on stage, a necessary reminder to appreciate the skill required to perform for a crowd. 

Overall, the hour-long show of NewDad in Melkweg was incredibly enjoyable. Its charged atmosphere and the stage presence of the musicians promise many more great shows in the future. As for the development of sound in the upcoming records, an exciting mystery remains.