A true journeyman, Kevin Morby expresses his life through his music and wears his figurative heart of his buckskin sleeve. Having just landed after his time in New Zealand, the Midwest maverick ventured to the great Southern land, and it was with much anticipation Morby and fellow band mates were greeted at Sydney’s Factory Theatre in Marrickville.
From the glimmering mother of pearl namesake inlay on the fretboard of his Fender, and the shimmering glitter from under his eyes, the outward exuberance of Morby was reflected by the enthusiastic crowd who mirrored his glow and fed it straight back on stage.
Touring on the back of ‘More Photographs’ and the preceding record ‘This Is A Photograph’, it was only fitting that it be the opening track to kick off proceedings and energize the crowd. It was with a big bag of tunes that Morby arrived with – which considering his already hefty body of work – was a well-stocked one. The delight in wondering just what songs would feature during the show soon gave way to an extensive range of tracks from across the width and breadth of his career.
With bated breath, the receptive crowd devoured the opening tracks ‘Random Act’, ‘Bittersweet’, and ‘Rock Bottom’. Taking a moment out to sit on an amp, Morby began his dialogue of ill feelings in ‘Five Easy Pieces’ and the relationship he was only too happy to see the back of. A full-bodied performance of the epic ‘Campfire’ with saxophonist and flutist Cochemea Gastelum lifted the live version to new heights.
Shifting into top gear ‘Wander’ mushroomed from an inherently lively and bouncy track into one of fever pitch. The much loved ‘Destroyer’ saw Morby take to the keys and return the energy levels to a sustainable level. The soothing organ allowed himself along with the audience to catch their breath. Gastelum’s intense sax again dominated along with the climatic drums of Nick Kinsey on ‘Piss River’. ‘City Music’ was appropriately “dedicated to Sydney” and its characteristic slow build led to its euphoric release by the ignited crowd.
Cycling through ‘Mountain / Dorothy’ Morby moved on to ‘A Coat of Butterflies’, an ode Jeff Buckley, and those befallen far too early in life. ‘TIAP II’ continued the overwhelmingly positive vibe and the party atmosphere had been well established. Appearing that the good times would never end alas all things must pass and it was only right that the final track should be ‘Goodbye To Good Times’. Departing the stage to rapturous applause, it wasn’t long before Morby and co were lured back on stage for an encore that consisted of ‘Beautiful Strangers’ and the classic, ‘Harlem’. A balance of bliss and brutality that life offers in spades and to which Morby so beautifully captures and conveys.
