Live Review: James Vincent McMorrow At The Vanguard Sydney

In a room known for hosting Star Wars based burlesque, tonight’s entertainment is a little more sedate. After captivating audiences across Europe and the US, this is James Vincent McMorrow’s premier trip down under and demand has already exceeded supply with this, the second Sydney show, sold out.

As McMorrow shuffled onstage those lucky few crammed into The Vanguard ceased their chatter into a reverential hush. Like obedient children when their teacher arrives, even without a greeting he had his crowd exactly where he wanted them for opener Sparrow and The Wolf. Silence prevailed as his guitar plucking proved a canvas for his passionate, sincere vocals and a sign of things to come. Even electrical interference could not distract him though he found time for a smile and a giggle at his engineer’s expense. With his serious face back on, his now pained voice painted a rich picture during And If My Heart Should Somehow Stop.

McMorrow then confessed that crowds make him nervous but he should get used to this and increasing levels of attention. The beauty is in how he can take a song then strip it down for potent performances. Whether down to technical difficulties he performed We Dont Eat unplugged yet that only augmented the song’s raw vigour and sublime delivery. With his eyes closed tight for most of the set he cut an almost awkward figure yet in Hear The Noise That Moves So Soft And Low he showcased his confidence through assured lyrics that were bordering on fables.

Between songs he brought the crowd to laughter yet when performing he created an intensity that few artists could match. His spellbinding style even stretched to covers as Roy Orbison’s In Dreams was moulded and reduced with those commanding vocals. The tension was then lifted by Down The Burning Ropes with a galloping guitar rhythm. Gradually his guitar became more of an influence and Breaking Hearts revealed a bitter and twisted side with a near cathartic guitar solo.

His audience were even treated to a new song of a sombre sound centred around his whispered, wavering voice and building to a searing final refrain before another off the mic performance, this time of If I Had A Boat. Whilst joking about getting lost behind the curtain he quickly returned for an encore. Another cover but on this occasion Chris Isaac’s Wicked Games took a few bars to resonate due to its minimal yet mesmerising take. With that he was gone but certainly not forgetten as his set was one of compelling grandeur with songs that sound so effortless, so timeless you wonder where they lay hidden.

By Omar Soliman