Brian Mackey “Good Morning Ireland”

Beautiful, deeply emotional release, oozing warmth and vulnerability

It’s almost impossible to try and imagine how it feels to cope with the loss of a child. Brian McKey lost his son Brian to a heroin overdose in 2018. He then spent a period of four years on a transformative journey towards an awakening for him –  and that came from the glorious birth of his daughter Marigold in 2022. All those deeply emotional experiences have given Mackey inspiration to make this album of sixteen gorgeous, affecting songs in the ‘alternative new folk’ vein.

He’s joined by a stellar line up of incredibly talented musicians – his friend Jeff King (Reba McEntire/Brooks & Dunn); Steve Brewster, drums (Jewel); Mark Hill bass (Brook & Dunn); Jason Webb piano; Tammy King violin (Steel Drivers); Paul Nelson (cello); Delena King & Beth Slocum (vocals) – and was produced by Mackey and Jim Kimball (Reba McEntire).

The writing and recording of these songs have had an incredibly strong healing effect on Mackey and as a listener one can’t but be impressed by the quality of the music and the positive effect it has. We open on some strong drum beats and fiddle playing on ‘More Than Anyone’, before we open out with some striking acoustic guitar and Mackey’s powerful vocals on a strong and positive song – and those emotive feelings are apparent from the get go. There’s also a lovely false ending, before we get some lovely ‘hey ho’s’ to end the song.

‘Dublin Night Bird’ is another acoustic guitar and violin ballad and tells the powerful story of how Mackey laid his son to rest in Ireland – driving aimlessly, trying to find the perfect place and the challenge of the struggle to let go and start the process of grieving. Mackey says “My son’s ashes were in the room where my piano was – I would sit and play when I wanted to talk to him, which helped me work through the idea that he was gone”. On this and all the songs in this set Mackey brilliantly avoids a sense of maudlin – but rather it’s a message of hope after grief and leaves one on a musical high. Not an easy achievement. Simply gorgeous.

‘Count The Stars 1’ is a glorious song – opening on strings, piano and Mackey’s lovely voice.  It’s a fantastic tune that simply builds carefully to a joyous but deeply emotional finish. Seriously classy stuff. ‘Even Though I Try’ is a powerful piano based ballad and a first class tune and is another heartfelt message to his son. The mood changes on ‘Maintenance Man’ with a hard rock guitar melded with country undertones, on a fantastic song about Mackey’s time as a contractor fixing homes and the things people would disclose to him while he was in their spaces. Mackey says “ All truth with this one. As rowdy as a car full of mullets on a beer run, sums up the feeling when we recorded it”. Penultimate track ‘You Are Amazing’ and is about the birth of his daughter Marigold and the inevitable warmth and deep love that this amazing event had on Mackey. It’s a stunning piano ballad and even the most macho listener can’t helped but to almost be moved to tears listening to the sheer power that the song elicits.

This is a moving, deeply affecting album that comes from tragic experiences, but shows how positive and healing music can be for not only a musician but also the listener. It’s a stunning listen.