The Northcote Theatre, grand in scale and oozing history, charm and heritage, is known for welcoming titans in music – most recently Gretta Ray, Kurt Vile, and Angie McMahon.
Last night (3 October) the venue hosted Mr Kevin Morby, who has not graced Victorian shores since March 2020.Following the release of his newest album, 'More Photographs (A Continuum)' in May of this year, (described by the artist as the "same home experienced differently," when viewed in conjunction with last year's album 'This Is A Photograph') Morby continues to exude a gentle and soothing groove.
His tracks are quiet, reflective and introspective, yet equally big, bold and vibrant as assisted by his stream-of-consciousness croon that is unwavering in delivery. His sound evokes images of distant days, warm sun and valleys of lurid green, deepest blue oceans, holding loved ones and pondering and falling in love.
Homegrown Lo Carmen was an enchanting opening act, demonstrating her penchant for impeccable lyricism and slow and low Americana music. She was accompanied by only a lone drummer, and they maintained a powerful and emphatic sound despite being a small but mighty team of two.
Kansas City local, Morby – donned in a black fringe jacket with soft cheekbones shimmering glitter – and his equally small but mighty band of three descended upon the stage to a soundscape of gleeful cheers from the crowd and launched straight into 'This Is A Photograph'.
This track champions Morby's usual Americana-mid-western sound – his vocal likeness to Bob Dylan and even Jonathan Richman can not be understated – yet this live version was gorgeously peppered with a saxophone that added richness and depth.
Image © Julia Enter
As the song built, Kevin showed boundless and ceaseless energy, elegantly grooving across the stage and engaging with his bandmates. I'd love to know what pops into Morby's mind when he's uttering the recurring phrase in this track: "This is what I'll miss most about being alive."
As they moved into the next track – 'A Random Act Of Kindness' – the crowd was pin-droppingly soundless, serene and enraptured; this gig featured incredibly intimate and still moments as we willingly allowed Morby and the band to guide us into each new song.
Lo Carmen was ushered back out for a duet with Morby on the beautifully melancholic track 'Bittersweet, TN' (Erin Rae features on the album version).
'Rock Bottom' was a jangly, upbeat, fun and soaring track that generated serious grooving from those positioned in front of me. This was paired nicely with the band then delving into the initially slow and quiet 'Five Easy Pieces', which was a stunning blend of drumming, bass and piano with Kevin's nostalgia-drenched vocals.
Morby looked like he was having a mirthful time stalking around the stage, illustrated via the finale of this track prompting him to throw the microphone clean in the air, and despite fumbling the mark, this slightly rhythmic gymnastics-esque move was still very impressive.
'Campfire' exemplified the band's gorgeous musicianship and Morby's skilled stream-of-consciousness venting that is delivered without hesitation or uncertainty.
Morby initially adopted the post of pianist for 'Wander', and was accompanied by slow drumming and the halfway entry of a saxophone – this jazzy addition well and truly enriched the sound of nearly every track performed.
Image © Julia Enter
There was a moment when the only sound to ring out in the theatre was an elongated saxophone note, and the crowd remained transfixed and breathless until the band came back in and transformed this moment into a loud, exuberant and controlled wall of sound.
The Americana sound also heard in the music of Alabama Shakes and Shakey Graves was especially noted in 'Piss River' from his 2019 album 'Oh My God'. This track and others, such as 'I Have Been To The Mountain' and 'Beautiful Strangers', highlight Morby's tendency to litter religious allusions into his lyrics – with blatant references to the devil, God, Jesus Christ, deliverance, a baby in a manger and forgiveness.
The crowd were tickled pink to have Morby dedicate 'City Music' to the sprawling and writhing yet ultimately inspiring metropolis that is Melbourne. This track is a love letter to music, people, urbanity and mainly how music can function as a beating heart that keeps an ecosystem alive.
The first two minutes are an almost hymn-like and meditative instrumental introduction, yet we then build and crash into an excitable anthem that is impossible not to chant along to: "Oh! That city music! Oh! That city sound!"
His salute to Jeff Buckley via the track 'A Coat Of Butterflies', opened with an almost tropical-esque sounding guitar – slightly reminiscent of 'Rippling Waters' by Speedy West – which, when fused with the saxophone, was pure magic.
Image © Julia Enter
This track both criticises and praises America, mourning the ill-fated Jeff Buckley now "living on the river's floor," fearful of an America that is "violent and stubborn," yet confusingly worthy of Morby's adoration – "she's ugly but I love her. . . Goddamn."
The penultimate track for the night was 'This Is A Photograph II', an answer to the track of the same name on last year's album and an obvious demonstration of Morby's desire to revamp songs to maximise their creative potential.
Before launching into the final (official) track, he captured a snapshot of the crowd on his trusty film camera and then explained that someone had approached him in the street and requested he play a Silver Jews track, which he then did with relish.
Morby and the band offered us a lovely rendition of 'Random Rules', featuring a prophetic and telling lyric, 'I know a lot of what I say has been lifted off men's rooms walls,' which is just as poignant now as it was in 1998.
The band's offering of 'Beautiful Strangers' was perhaps one of the most sublime live performances I've witnessed in a long time; the song drips with bittersweetness and Kevin's perfected tone of beautiful melancholia.
A potent anti-gun violence and anti-terrorism song, lamenting those lost in school shootings, the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks and the death of Freddie Gray, 'Beautiful Strangers' was crisp and clear live; deliciously paced, gentle and emotive. It rendered the crowd speechless; when Morby sang for us "put your eyes to the sky and wonder," everyone's gaze almost instinctively tilted upwards to the Theatre's seemingly endless high ceilings.
There is a clear message of love, connection and harmony in the track despite the harrowing themes. When originally released in 2016, all proceeds from the track were donated to Everytown for Gun Safety.
A zesty bonus track came in the almost ten-minute long 'Harlem River', which could be interpreted as a love song however slightly sinister and jagged sounding. Morby speaks about this river as a powerful entity responsible for love, action, inaction and moon theft.
The fab four then bid a heartfelt adieu, blowing kisses and scattering rose petals into the grateful crowd.
- written by Helena Morgan
