Saturday night in St. Paul. It’s dreary, raining, getting cold as fall settles in. And at the Palace Theater is probably the most fitting music for the evening, and the fall season. Iron and Wine with their opener, John Moreland. If you read my review of Moreland at the Turf Club when he last hit the Twin Cities you know my feelings on the genre on melancholy reflection. Suffice it to say this show fits the bill on many fronts and I was excited despite photographing for 8 hours prior. Music fixes many things, including sore feet.
I made it to the Palace Theater after a casual half mile jog from the parking ramp, with my gear. Thanks a bunch Wild fans. Joking, love my hockey. I arrived to an already filling audience. Which isn’t to say I expected anything less but I thought there’d be a dribble of folks closer to the show time. Happy to be wrong.
Moreland made his way on stage no differently than the last I’d seen him, and no different than any other live show of his I’d watched online. No announcement just a casual stroke to his chair and he got right into it like he was playing at a road side Cafe.
John’s style is casual, but just like his lyrics, is clearly a deeply reflecting man and it comes through in his playing. You never get a feeling he’s tiring of a song or just going through his paces. You get John and all the feelings which he very likely had the first time he played a song. I have yet to break myself away from being obsessed with songs like Break My Heart Sweetly or Sallisaw Blues. But one I did find myself hooked on and took a moment to pause and soak in was Oh Julia. Not even a song I recall heavily playing the first time I heard John’s music, but one which takes on new life live. Credit to John’s voice, it’s what brought me to a halt midshoot.
This reviews is for Iron and Wine, but it was good seeing ya again John. Always great stuff. On to the main event!
Iron and Wine came on stage under a cloud covered night. No, really. Check the photos. They had clouds and a whole shabang. I have never seen or in the last couple years listened to Iron and Wine so I didn’t know what to expect. But on came a group of people who I couldn’t help but think “I wanna get a beer with you all and hear your stories”. No frills, no showmanship, just musicians and their music were there that night.
As said I haven’t heard much of Iron and Wine for some time. What I did know previous to the show was from friends who said that given my love for the likes of Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers, I would enjoy their music. Friends, you are 2/2 on music recommendations of this sort. Good job.
The first songs included Trapeze Swing and Call Your Boys. Took me some time to figure out what these songs were in the setlist for the night but they definitely stuck with me. A night filled with cold rains and peaceful ambience fit these songs perfectly. Songs that draw you in and you may not even hear the words at some point, but the emotional message seems to carry on nonetheless.
The night was partially a showcase for Iron and Wine’s new album, Beast Epic, I realized while looking up songs during the show. Which I think was a huge testament to the band’s music because I couldn’t have figured it out had I not looked up the setlist during the show. Some bands you can hear a progression or major departure within some songs. Iron and Wine is not one of those bands and stays true to their very Simon and Garfunkel like sound. Apologies if not a fan of Simon and Garfunkel, but that’s the immediate vibe I got that night and when listening again later the next day.
I can’t do justice to the band like our writer Jessica would have, but duty calls so I did my best. However I sincerely enjoyed the show that night in St.Paul. Many shows that I get to see and have never heard the music prior cause me a bit of panic. Largely whether I’ll be dreading or loving the chance to stay for the show. This was one I was happy to hang out and enjoy a drink to with fans. Iron and Wine is a great show to catch any night I have to say. Having spent the first half of my day photographing marching bands on my feet I wasn’t sure I’d be on sensory overload. It was a night full of enjoyable fan company, good music, and reflection.
Setlist: The Trapeze Swinger/About a Bruise/Last Night/Wolves (Song of the Shepherd’s Dog)/Woman King/Call Your Boys/The Desert Babbler/Bitter Truth/Fever Dream/Song in Stone/Lovers’ Revolution/Upward Over the Mountain/Boy With a Coin/Sodom, South Georgia/Monkeys Uptown/Thomas County Law
