Richard BodinTo promote their new album Altar, released on September 19, NewDad took a refreshing approach: a record shop tour. Tickets to these intimate shows weren’t sold but earned—fans had to pre-order the album in-store. In an age dominated by streaming and faceless online orders, this initiative felt like a breath of fresh air. It not only boosted the band’s own release but also shone a spotlight on independent record shops. In Ireland, NewDad scheduled stops in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and their hometown Galway. In Limerick, the honour of hosting fell to Steamboat Records.
An Intimate Acoustic Set
Represented by Julie Dawson and Sean O’Dowd—joined by Marie Freisse, playing bass—the band delivered a short acoustic set. Around 5pm, in front of a packed crowd, they took the stage for the second time that day, having already performed at Cork’s MusicZone earlier. Dawson, while adjusting a stubborn guitar strap, welcomed the audience and explained that they’d be playing songs exclusively from Altar.
She also shared that the album title had been decided only a week before going to press, before launching into the opener: their latest single “Everything I Wanted.” It was a highlight—perhaps my personal favourite—and its stripped-back version was flawless. The audience responded warmly to the song’s excellent melody.
Throughout the set, Dawson kept the atmosphere casual and intimate, introducing each song with ease. “Pretty,” dedicated to Galway—“almost as pretty as Limerick”—earned laughter and applause. “Misery,” normally awash with fuzzy guitar textures, was reimagined with striking intensity in acoustic form.
Final Note
The show was brief but endearing, leaving the audience fully engaged. Afterwards, fans had the chance to chat with Julie and Sean, who signed albums that doubled as tickets. Steamboat’s owner, Mark DeCarreau, was delighted with the success of the event and hinted at more to come—May Kay is set to promote her debut album in-store on October 11.
