For the first of two sold-out performances at St Luke’s the Scottish-based Northern Irish singer-songwriter performed tracks from his 2013 comeback album The Joy Of Nothing.
Written in Aberfeldy in the aftermath of a divorce it proved to be an astonishing piece of work. In the ten years that have passed tracks such as opener Closed Hand, Full of Friends have only grown stronger. Performed on piano and abetted by Vance’s warm Irish brogue the audience listens in silence. When people do begin to chatter later in the set they are soon chastised by Vance or other members of the audience. Hearing Regarding Your Lover performed stripped down in a venue such as this is a privilege, Vance puts himself entirely in the moment but often underplays the arresting energy created with humour. He jokes about a second recent divorce helping him figure out how to write songs.
The moustached singer seems smitten with the excellent support act Bonnie Bishop and the pairing is a good one; musically at least. When the Texan joins him for a stunning version of The Pogues Fairytale of New York it’s steeped in nuance with the recent passing of Shane MacGowan and just a few days before Christmas. A tribute is also paid to Sinéad O’Connor with an acoustic version of Nothing Compares 2U reminding us of another Irish luminary lost in the last year.
Vance begins She Burns from his third 2006 album The Wild Swan in a comedic country style leading one member of the audience to shout “respect the song”. Vance, who seems unaware, starts the song again and people are drawn to immediately sing along not for the first time, his music has the power to draw you in and make you feel human again. Guiding Light ends the set like a gospel revival meeting in this 700-capacity former church.
He returns for a final encore of Indiscriminate Act Of Kindness which sounds as counter-culture and relevant as when it was first released all those Christmasses ago.
Foy Vance St Luke’s Glasgow. PHOTOS Richard Purden
