It's a perfect night in Sydney, warm and inviting, just like the timeless songs from Jeff Buckley's legendary album 'Grace', which vocal icon Katie Noonan is graciously performing in full tonight.
Jack Carty kicks off the evening (7 November) with a joke about hating Queensland – where he happens to live. He sings about imagination with lyrics that melt you, his fingers flying across his acoustic guitar as he beats his stompbox.
"This next song is about the chaos of being a parent," he introduces a humorous ditty with lines like, 'my bed is full of unicorns'. 'Travelling Shoes' is a sad tale of love lost, before Carty jokes: "You guys are a lot nicer than all those people in Melbourne said you were."
'I Worry' is sadly beautiful, and relatable as Carty shines tender and warm. "I think I found the reason why the universe expands," he sings next about his child, before his last song, a touching piano ballad that leaves anticipation hanging in the air for all that is to come.
Katie's band enter in the dark and that is where they begin, perfect harmonies streaming out into the black. First song 'Mojo Pin' is an opus, as Noonan's pitch-perfect vocals float up and down. The song ends in a giant wall of sound, as Noonan rings out above it all. The crowd erupts.
Noonan shares little anecdotes and history before each song, recounting this is the only stage (Enmore Theatre) of the tour that Buckley actually performed on.
"Jeff gave me the agency to be a musical weirdo," Katie recounts her journey from operatic soprano training into the world of rock, which was inspired by seeing Buckley perform. You feel immense gratitude the world got to see Noonan this way.
"I've met a lot of Graces on this tour," Noonan smiles. "What a beautiful word and way to live your life." 'Grace' is jovial and tragic in one, Noonan as hypnotic as ever. She takes a moment to acknowledge the traditional owners with a heartfelt reference to Oodgeroo Noonuccal's poem and the phrase 'glad tomorrow'.
A metal slider scrapes the strings of the guitar, as the violin shines in 'Last Goodbye'. The band are as tight as the record. "My grandfather was a singing clown, and I'm a fourth generation carnie," Noonan shares, before temporarily starting 'Lilac Wine'.
"Is that a baby?" she stops mid-song, "or a very drunk adult?" The crowd explodes. "Welcome bubba," she says, launching back in not without missing a beat. 'So Real' starts with red and purple spotlights, as Noonan showcases some of the longest and highest notes anyone has ever heard. It's a spiritual and transformative experience.
She jokes about Leonard Cohen's ability to sing, applauding Buckley's choice of cover that introduced more of the world to him. She begins with a syncopated version of 'Hallelujah' that culminates with the entire theatre singing the chorus low as Noonan soars as usual.
'Lover, You Should've Come Over' floods with aqua and purple, as Noonan's voice floats around your soul. 'Corpus Christi Carol' is as beautiful as it deserves, before 'Eternal Life' reminds us that Noonan is one of the greatest of all time, not just in Australia, but the world. "That felt like Jeff was with us," she shares tenderly after the song.
'Dream Brother' ends an epic show, the band taking their well deserved bows. To those who missed this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime tour, condolences are in order. We will never see Buckley grace us with his songs, but Noonan brought them to life in her own way.
Transformative, soul-wrenching and just as impactful as the original album, Katie Noonan created something truly special, and for that, she is owed bountiful thanks.
