Mark Lanegan, Roisín Dubh, 30.04.10

I can't get over just how much I enjoyed Lanegan's acoustic show in Galway last weekend. It was a sublime gig. The Voice was in near perfect shape - certainly a notch or two on from the Gutter Twins shows in the Academy or Electric Picnic last year and a continuation of the standard he set supporting Depeche Mode with the Soulsavers in the Point in December. He is ON FIRE at the moment. I'm a big fan anyway and had been looking forward to it since the tour was announced. We here in Europe - and particularly in Ireland where he seems to play every year - are spoiled ROTTEN with these shows from the great man in recent years.

Mark's rootsy acoustic music that he perfected on Field Songs and Whiskey were beautifully realised and the 500 or so fans in Galway absolutely lapped it up. Mark was looking relaxed with smiles between each song... youre not gonna get much more than that from him in fairness! When he lets the handbrake off he is simply a peerless vocalist. He totally let the handbrake off at this show.

Dave Rosser provided a simple framework for Mark's voice to rumble and soar. They make for a compelling team and brought these songs to life in front of me last Friday. It was without question the best performance I've seen from Lanegan in the last 6/7 years.

Majority of the set was taken from Lanegan's solo work with two "runs" of songs on the night at the start (Where Your Number Isnt Up>One Way Street>No Easy Action/Miracle>River Rise) and the finish (Field Song>Traveller>Bombed>Wild Flowers>Hanging Tree) that sounded absolutely magesterial.

The opening in particular was stunning. The crowd were so quiet (and knowledgeable) in the transition between Easy Action and Miracle it was spinetingling. Message to Mine was a treat as was Bell Black Ocean and Sunrise. Dave Rosser's harmony vocals on One Hundred Days lent the song a quality that inspired in my Mrs the thought that it was about death (think about it)... utterly compelling.

When Your Number Isnt Up
One Way Street
No Easy Action
Miracle
River Rise
Shiloh Town
Little Willie John
Don't Forget Me Dear
Where The Twain Shall Meet
Bell Black Ocean
Message To Mine
Can't Catch The Train
Mirrored
Resurrection Song
Juliet Dream
Sunrise
One Hundred Days
Jesus Program
- - -
Field Song
Traveller
Bombed
Wild Flowers
Hanging Tree