One measure for a great concert is how a live performance not only changes how the songs sound, but also how you feel about them. For example, each song M. Ward played was amazing — beautiful, warm, emotional — but going back over the set list, there are a handful of songs on that there that I, although a fan, had mostly overlooked or otherwise not loved. However, in concert he made every song vibrant. It sounded as if I was listening to a set of only my favorites. How could I not walk away a bigger fan?
I can safely say that I haven’t been to another concert quite like this one. Ward started out the concert in almost total darkness, except for a window projected on a screen above the right side of the stage. Eventually, the lights came up a little bit, but it was still hard to make out who exactly was on stage at any given time. The dramatic lighting reminded me of seeing a play more than going to a concert, and yet somehow it created a perfect intimate setting in which to enjoy his music.
He began the night with a solo acoustic guitar instrumental that was both beautiful and captivating, ranging in styles and moods. After building the crowd’s anticipation, M. Ward gradually moved from the quiet acoustic songs to the louder, more rambunctious numbers. He wasn’t accompanied on stage until his third song, and that was just to add the whistle to “Lullaby + Exile”. The band finally joined him two songs later for “Post-War”. As the set moved forward, the band picked up momentum, adding a pounding beat to “Chinese Translation” and drawing cheers as they launched into the full sound of “Poison Cup”. The crowd, which had been respectfully quiet in the beginning sang and clapped along boisterously to “Magic Trick”. The concert reached it’s peak with “Epistemology”, which had a great guitar riff intro and even better jam in the middle. He ended the set with a rocking version of John Fahey‘s “Bean Vine Blues No. 2″, but came back on for the encore with two more rollicking numbers.
I had come early because I didn’t want to miss seeing openers Port O’Brien‘s “I Woke Up Today”, one of my favorite songs last year. While musically compatible, the two performances couldn’t have been more different in their presentation. Ward barely spoke the entire show, where as lead singer Van Pierszalowski had funny things to say between almost every song, from giving dancing directions to handing out pots and pans for the grand finale. Although Port O’Brien was good, I’d like to see them in smaller, standing room-only venue. I think the seating and the size of the venue kept the crowd interaction from reaching its full potential.
It was truly a wonderful show. Fans might not have heard every song they loved — I didn’t — but it’s hard to imagine that they didn’t leave satisfied. I know I got in my car wishing that I had bought tickets for the following nights.
Set List:
unknown instrumental
Here Comes The Sun Again
Lullaby + Exile
Eyes On The Prize
Post-War
Chinese Translation
Hold Time
Poison Cup
Magic Trick
To Save Me
Requiem
Never Had Nobody Like You
Epistemology
Rave On
Fisher Of Men
Bean Vine Blues No. 2
Roller Coaster
Big Boat
M. Ward: website | myspace | @ austin city limits 2008
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Photo: Jessica McGinley
