Darren Hanlon is back. That is, at least, for the time being: the popular troubadour has flown direct from the US of A for one jolly Australian Christmas, and he’s just about ready to jet his way back to begin work on his fourth studio album. Fortunately for us, his imminent departure would not come before a handful of special, intimate shows, including a sold-out appearance at the Northcote Social Club.

Opening for Hanlon was Berlin-based, Italian-born Caterina Barbieri – aka Missincat – a softly spoken character who shines through her craft: sweetly sung, romantic serenades of personal poetry. She is pleasantly multi-dimensional for merely a girl with a guitar. Incidentally, Barbieri frequently voiced her desire for her band, apologising for her solo appearance. She needn’t have done so, however: in only her second show in Australia to date, Barbieri encountered little difficulty in captivating the growing crowd before her, especially in her cutesy cover of The Velvet Underground’s After Hours . She displays a knack for subdued, somber melodies sure to include rays of optimism throughout. Punters gave her the tick of approval (the deal was sealed beyond doubt when a kazoo featured) as she confirmed all of our sentiments at once: it was a nice way to kick off a warm December evening.

I returned from the break between sets to find the venue bursting at the seams, as the hardcore Darren Hanlon devotees had clearly turned out in full force. Soon enough, the man himself emerged to healthy applause, charged with filling the large Northcote stage. Darren Hanlon has a distinctly Australian-tinged voice, and a lilt that often adheres to the familiarity of everyday conversation. Jangly opener Electric Skeleton set the scene for a fun sort of a night, and what then ensued didn’t disappoint. The recurring line ‘Spend Christmas day with me’ was instantly drew heartfelt, highly amusing – and not to mention highly audible – sighs from those in attendance. Such adoring interruptions became a staple of the relaxed evening, Hanlon weathering each with a friendly warmth all too uncommon in most performers. Fans were united in voice for their favorite, banjo-driven Falling Aeroplanes, and soon a surprise cover of The Go-Betweens Lee Remick featured. His 2006 single Happiness Is A Chemical also drew a great response from the venue.

Hanlon’s strength lies in his genuine touch, each folk number showcasing his special knack for poetry, each line drawn from a wide collection of personal experience and worldly observations. Its honest, emotional, and it all adds up to the obvious conclusion that he’s one of us – a conclusion that is again reinforced by his good-natured, between-song banter, with stories ranging from his pinball tournament triumphs to a brief stint as a primary school children’s entertainer. All in all, he’s a talented guitarist and has developed a niche for himself that always manages to sit right.

One thing I found consistent between both performers this was their desire to keep things interesting and exciting despite limited resources (i.e. themselves, and one or two instruments at best). It’s a tough gig playing an hour or two with an entire stage to yourself. But as both Missincat and Darren Hanlon proved, it can be done, and it can be done tremendously well.