As if the prospect of witnessing a solo set from the frontman of indie-uber-country mavericks Lambchop and writer of one of the albums of the year (Nixon) wasn’t mouthwatering enough, support this evening came from Madder Rose vocalist Mary Lorson, here to promote her new solo project, Saint Low.

Lorson herself has taken time away from Madder Rose since 1999’s Hello June Fool, trading in her poppy hooks and harmonies for darker, downbeat rhythms. Lorson’s beautiful voice swooped high and low through the understated set, switching between guitar and piano-based numbers from her debut LP, with Kurt gracing the stage to duet with Lorson on her final song, the piano-led Walk on By.

Kurt Wagner, in all his deep-southern-fried splendour, is a storybook man with tales a-plenty. Beginning with Nixon’s opener The Old Gold Shoe, this smiling Nashville man began to weave his magic amongst the red twilight of the crowd until his audience became utterly transfixed. Telling of summer meadows, white-picket fenced houses and good cool beer, the fireside ballads of Nashville Parent, You Masculine You and The Distance from Her to There proved as poignant as they were melodic.

Less the fifteen-strong entourage of Lambchop, Kurt seemed content with his guitar, bottle of beer and trusty baseball cap, and mesmerized the crowd with the bat of a knowing eye. “It’s funny the way you guys time your coughs so you don’t screw my songs up”, he laughed, echoed by the audience.

And that’s the most amazing thing; this evening, there were no mistakes. Simply two musicians, both hypnotic, talented and notoriously difficult to track down live, playing their own songs alone and vulnerable on the stage. Tonight Wagner and Larson were given a real chance to shine both in their own right, and on behalf of all of the criminally ignored Grandaddies, Yo La Tengos, Swells and Red House Painters of this world.

And shine they did, in an intimate and moving display.

They were truly blinding.

Karl Cremin.

Live Reviews
The Music Bar