“Uh… we’re gonna be doin’ this set acapella”
A slight delay with the main act tonight when Dave Rosser’s guitar wasn’t making any discernable noise, although this was soon solved through the application of (technical term, I believe) a small amount of jiggling, and then we were underway for the last show that I would be catching on this tour.
It certainly didn’t disappoint.
Opening with Bubblegum opener When Your Number Isn’t Up, Mark Lanegan once more set off through his back-catalogue, ably assisted by David Rosser. Considering this is now some way through the tour, he doesn’t hold back a single part of his performance, putting everything behind each line and note as if it was the first night.
Might just have been me, but there seemed to be a bit more urgency to this set compared with others I’ve seen, with gaps between songs shortened and intros slightly truncated, but this matters not when it’s the songs that are important here – each one once more performed impeccably and delivered with absolute clarity in the very cramped confines of the Rescue Rooms tonight.
One thing that was somewhat conspicuous by its absence last week was anything from his Scraps at Midnight album, and this was remedied tonight with a gorgeous, laid-back rendition of Bell Black Ocean, sandwiched nicely between the more boisterous Where the Twain Shall Meet and Message to Mine.
Once more though, the biggest highlight of the set was saved until the encores, and a wonderful version of Wild Flowers that was as expansive and cheerful as the Winding Sheet original is claustrophobic and personal. The twenty year wait to hear it performed live (and then to hear it twice in one week!) is an emotional high for this writer that time will find very hard to erode.
Although I’m sorry that this will be the last of these show that I will be attending (due to not actually being made of money), I am so grateful to Mark Lanegan, David Rosser and Duke Garwood (who had another great night tonight – anyone going to see future shows are well-advised to turn up early) for coming over and truly giving the fans exactly what they want. Brilliant.
Setlist:
When Your Number Isn’t Up
One Way Street
No Easy Action / Miracle
Shiloh Town
Like Little Willie John
Don’t Forget Me
Where the Twain Shall Meet
Bell Black Ocean
Message to Mine
Can’t Catch the Train
Mirrored
Resurrection Song
Julia Dream
River Rise
One Hundred Days
On Jesus’ Program
————————-
Encores:
Field Song
Traveler
Bombed
Wild Flowers
Hangin’ Tree
Recent Comments