John Smith at The Unitarian Church on September 24th 2013-05-banner

John Smith at the Unitarian Church, 24th of September 2013

Fresh from a recent Dublin appearance supporting Richard Hawley, the Unitarian Church plays host to a rather more intimate performance from Devon singer-songwriter John Smith. A unique venue for a unique voice, the sell-out crowd arrived in anticipation of tonight’s show with more than a few marvelling at the surroundings.

The gig gets off to a great start thanks to support act Ruarri Joseph. Like John, he is a man with a guitar and plenty of tunes and he plays a wonderful blend of English folk and American blues songs. These include songs from his latest album ‘Brother’, a record written for and dedicated to his friend Matt who passed away and you get a real sense of the honest emotion that Ruarri’s style exhibits. The set is sprinkled with anecdotes about his friend including one about the last time he saw him; he never said hello as he was with other people and didn’t want to interrupt. This led him to write No More Sins which is the highlight of the seven songs he performs.

John takes to the stage around 9:15 and with little in the way of introduction, bursts into the first song. There is a Stone, taken from his latest album ‘Great Lakes’ is a beautiful folk ballad that gently draws the audience into his world. Sung almost like a whisper it holds you in awe and you’re left that way for the rest of the night. The only time the audience make themselves known is to applaud enthusiastically after each song.

What strikes you most is how John is able to stand at the top of the altar with no band behind him, no light show and no distractions yet is able to keep the entire audience still and quiet with only his vocals and guitar playing. Plenty of stories are told in between the set’s twelve songs over the course of the evening and he is clearly impressed with his surroundings telling the people in the church that they are the “nicest audience I’ve had in Dublin”. One of the stories that John tells shows his self-deprecating humour, recalling his initial reaction to the tour poster: “I look like a meerkat”, and how he was sure that no one would turn up.

Later on in the show hopes are raised when John tells a story about Lisa Hannigan. She performs vocals on ‘Great Lakes’ and John has both toured and played with her in the past. Sadly there is to be no guest appearance tonight, something he realises he probably should have said at the offset but no one minds all that much,

Closing the set with The Invisible Boy John repeats the last lyric “Every now and again” over and over like he’s trying to ensure that, unlike the boy in the song, he is not forgotten. Given the warmth and reception shown to John tonight there seems to be no fear of that happening any time soon. On playing a two song encore he takes his final bow to a standing ovation behind the altar of the church, the gospel according to John never did sound so good.

 

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Photos: Shaun Neary