ASBURY PARK, NJ – There’s something special about when a solo artist puts on a performance that moves a sold-out crowd to silence. Well, the packed house at the Wonder Bar was treated to just that on Feb 2nd, when Irish singer-songwriter Darren Kiely stopped into town during the first leg of his, The Lost Tour.
Kiely, a twenty-six-year-old native of Cork Co, Ireland has had an interesting start to his music career; only beginning to sing in 2019. In the short time since, he has amassed a presence on social media that boosts over 3.8 million likes on TikTok, 719,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, as well as having put out his debut EP, Lost, in November of 2023.
Moving to New York City in 2022, before recently settling down in Nashville, it’s clear to see both Kiely’s American and Irish influences in his songwriting. Drawing early comparisons and influence from the likes of The Lumineers, Noah Kahan, Damien Rice, Luke Kelly, and The Pogues, Kiely expressed, “I feel like the people I really admire; I don't think anyone else can do what they do.”
Yet, armed with a grasp of the undivided attention of the Wonder Bar patrons, and weaving through his fresh catalog of hits like, “Time to Leave,” and “Ella,” Kiely showcased how he has managed to create a unique sound that is original to himself while still paying tribute to those musical influences.
In the middle of his set, Kiely stopped to pay tribute to two of his, “earliest American influences.” He began by playing a rendition of “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan, before switching mid-song to honor Asbury Park legend, Bruce Springsteen, with a version of “I’m On Fire,” which the crowd emphatically sung right back at him.
Keeping the audience on their toes, Kiely brought out the show's opener Kyndal Inskeep, for a duet of his song, “Lost & Found.” Then he stepped out amongst the crowd and formed a circle to play with no mic, something that those who were there won’t forget anytime soon.
The same day as the show in Asbury Park, Darren released his new single, “Slow Decay,” which he co-wrote with Gabe Simon. The song, which he says comes from, “a combination of experiences and fears,” pulls the listener in with his use of raw, powerful vocals and touching lyrics.
As a special release for the song, and to close out the show, fellow singer songwriter and New Jersey native, Vincent Lima, came out to play “Slow Decay,” as well as Kiely’s hit song, “Sunrise.”
Darren Kiely is a recently discovered musical gem, that has just begun to be polished. He is a true one-of-a-kind performer with the stage presence of an entire band, just with his voice and guitar. Kiely’s lyrics are authentic yet relatable and draw the listener wanting to hear what he has to say next.
The highly anticipated second leg of The Lost Tour, kicks off on March 2, in Denver, and will make 15 stops in the United States before heading over for 12 European show dates. Tickets for the final two shows of the tour at The Academy in Dublin, Ireland on May 30th and 31st sold out the same that tickets went on sale.
“Going back again, the show is going to be bigger than the show I played last time I was there,” said Kiely. “There’s just a big excitement building even though it's so far away. It’s like one of those shows where you know it’s just going to be great, and great to see everybody.”
This is a show you do not want to miss. For tickets to an upcoming show or for more information on all things Darren Kiely, you can check out his website, www.darrenkiely.com, or follow him on Instagram @darrenkielymusic.