Damien Rice pulls strings in two-hour masterclass

IRISH singer-songwriter Damien Rice worked his audience like a master puppeteer throughout a two-hour set which marked his long-awaited return to Sydney.

Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice made a long awaited return to Sydney for a one-off concert at City Recital Hall. Picture: David Vagg

• Magic in the moment
• Across the universe
• Beatlemania is alive and well
• Southern man keeping it real

IRISH singer-songwriter Damien Rice worked his audience like a master puppeteer throughout a two-hour set which marked his long-awaited return to these shores.

Like his compatriot Glenn Hansard Rice is fond of an anecdote — always amusing, sometimes bawdy — as he ranges through a back catalogue that includes some of the most melodically compelling and memorable indie folk songs of the past two decades.

And audience participation is a key element, especially when he is playing in a city with a strong Irish connection like Sydney. But unlike a Frames concert where everybody sings along, at a Rice gig you sit, watch and listen until you’re invited, in the most charming way, to join in.

There are pitfalls, however, not least as in this concert when a young woman who yelled out a request for Cold Water from the top balcony finally agreed to join Rice on stage for a duet, only to “corpse”. This frankly embarrassing 10-minute episode was more than made up for by the room being divided into four sections, each with their own part, for a rousing rendition of Volcano.

ATMOSPHERIC

The set started effectively with the stage in darkness and Rice singing Delicate with just acoustic guitar and no microphone. He soon ramped up the intensity — and the smoke machine — stepping into the atmospheric lamplight effects to deliver The Greatest Bastard, 9 Crimes and his Jacques Brel-like masterpiece The Professor and La Fille Danse before unleashing the effect pedals and strobe lighting on a driving, dirty rocking version of Rootless Tree.

Requests were called out — and a few were taken up — in a generous survey of 16 songs. Rice is not a prolific artist — his albums come out every five years or so and after 2014’s My Favourite Fantasy we’re due another one.

Was the lad a plant? Was the wine real? Who knows, who cares?

There was one new song, however — a simple and beautiful “offering” at the piano called Your Astronaut which shows a mellower relationship song with the refrain: “I can be your astronaut if you want some space, or I can hold mirrors right in your face”.

A final piece of audience participation — hilariously done — brought the set to a close with a bearded lad joining Rice over a bottle and a half of red for Rice’s monologue and song Cheers Darlin’ where he tries to pick up a girl in a Dublin bar on a wet Sunday. Was the lad a plant? Was the wine real? Who knows, who cares?

The evening turned full circle with Rice picking up his acoustic guitar to sing with no microphone The Blower’s Daughter.

But Rice’s impromptu, in-the-moment approach was no better illustrated than by a bonus opening set from young Australian folktronica singer-songwriter Gordi — real name Sophie Payten — who was born and raised on a farm in the NSW country town of Canowindra.

Rice had texted her the previous day and invited her to do a one-hour set.

Her voice sits somewhere between the compelling wistfulness of Aldous Harding and the bluesy ballsiness of early Joan Armatrading.

Gordi is already making her mark playing alongside the likes of Bon Iver and the National and for this set she chose six well-crafted songs — some with just acoustic guitar others with the “tronica” array of synth, loops, vocal computer and even harmonium — from her debut album Reservoir.

Engaging, intelligent and with a nice line in self-deprecating humour, Gordi is definitely one to catch at a live venue near you.

DETAILS

● CONCERT: Damien Rice

● WHERE: City Recital Hall Angel Place

● WHEN: Friday, February 1