Lior, Jess Chalker @ Tilley'sDevine Café, Canberra,(09/05/09)

Mon 11th May, 2009 in Gig Reviews

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Saturday night saw renowned Australian indie-folk singer/songwriter Lior triumphantly return to Canberra for the first of two intimate and up close shows at Tilley’s Devine Café. Sydney singer/song writer Jess Chalker provided support with the wonderful Victorian Tailem String Quartet joining Lior on stage.

It was an obviously nervous Jess Chalker who took to the stage a little after 8pm, and with a 200 strong dinner crowd about 5 inches away from her, most would be nervous. The Sydneysider did her best to warm up the crowd and at times she managed to hold their attention but generally, dinner, wine and talking among tables prevailed. Chalker’s honest and – œheart-on-sleeve’ style of song-writing was obvious, telling us tales of love lost, broken hearts, and chance encounters throughout her set. Love song Kiss Me Twice was a highlight showing Chalker’s potential in this much contested genre.

After a short interval, the lights went down and the crowd was silenced as Lior entered the stage. His experience and maturity showed throughout the set with his very confident banter and story telling enchanting the doting crowd. Lior was quick to declare Tilley’s as his favourite venue in the country, admitting he couldn’t resist choosing the venue over another theatre show. Lior opened the show with title track to his debut album Autumn Flow followed by the beautiful Bedouin Song. The talented Tailem String Quarter joined Lior on stage for Corner of an Endless Road and spent the rest of the night entering and exiting the tight stage.

The show skipped between Autumn Flow and Corner of an Endless Road and even featured a song off his 2006 live album Doorways of my Mind. Although predictable the highlight for most was This Old Love as Lior introduced the famous song with an amusing anecdote about the inability to translate the song in to French. Jess Chalker returned to the stage mid-set to join Lior for I’ll Forget You, his Corner of an Endless Road duet with Sia.

Lior graced the crowd with a double encore finally finishing the show with a song from his teens, The Other Side which was more of a Flight of the Conchords parody then a Lior track but showed the crowd how far he has come in the last 15 years or so.

There was no doubt that the crowd, packed with fans, were delighted by his performance and equally no doubt the Sunday night crowd were just as satisfied.

Set-list
Autumn Flow
Bedouin Song
Corner of an Endless Road
Heal Me
This Old Love
Diego & the Village Girl
Great Ocean
Daniel
Sonja
Gypsy Girl
I’ll Forget You
Lost In You
Superficial
Encore One
Building Ships
Avinu Malkeinu (Traditional Prayer)
Encore Two
The Other Side

CHECK OUT THE PICS HERE