Will Sheff, Mike Noga, JimmyStewart @ The Toff In Town,Melbourne (16/10/2011)

Tue 18th Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

With another acclaimed Melbourne Festival season fast approaching its finale, The Toff In Town played host to an intimate showcase of three formidable performers.

Local Jimmy Stewart opened proceedings, met with a sparse five-meter canyon at the foot of the stage as patrons amassed by the bar. Stewart’s tender folk affair would ensure their surrender, however; a warm acoustic rendition of Nat King Cole’s Smile – a song owed in part to Charlie Chaplin – was effortlessly captivating. Armed with an acoustic guitar and a glass of wine, Stewart indulged in a casually serene performance, one unobtrusive yet entirely alluring. His character would prove instrumental in his success, each softly-spoken interlude an endearing reward for the evening’s early-birds. “This song is called The Moon and The Sun... those two celestial bodies revolving around the Earth,” he jested, his dry humour a recurring pleasure. Naturally, even in light of one or two minor hiccups, the building crowd were won over, caught in the sway of Stewart’s delicate acoustic set.

Though The Drones’ Mike Noga, second to the stage, would profess a similarly sparse mode of performance, his set provided a point of difference for the evening. Noga’s craft would appear a touch more forceful, one that favoured a distinct sense of melodrama. The sharp, abrasive strikes of Noga’s trusty six-string ensured an animated display for the attentive crowd, while a harmonica was also prominent for much of the performance. “For the first time, playing a gig, I wish everyone were talking over the top of me,” Noga confessed, citing an unusually subdued slew of punters.

Unperturbed by the apparent silence, the folk-rocker opted to forge a connection with the Toff. In embarking upon Piss On The Butterfly, Noga revealed that the song’s origins rested with four personal, musical heroes. The matter of their respective identities ensured an amusing dialogue between artist and audience, with any and all suggestions entertained. It was thought that Noga referred to the likes of Dylan, or even Neil Young, though one creative patron had other ideas. “David Brent?!” Noga repeated, bemused at the thought. “Get the guitar.”

Ultimately, Noga’s appearance was a brilliant showing, an acoustic set executed to the letter. His key strength emerged via a crucial juxtaposition – a personable, endearing demeanour, placed against a distinctly angst-ridden song craft – ensuring an entertaining venture on all fronts.

The headline act, Okkervil River’s Will Sheff, later took to the stage to complete the evening’s intimate trilogy, yielding a new kind of magic. To witness Sheff’s song craft free from the context of his indie-rock collective was truly a joy; his every sentiment augmented beautifully. The bare-bones acoustic setting worked wonders, with Sheff’s ideas newly evocative and voiced with an emphatic charisma. Okkervil River fans would no doubt have appreciated the opportunity to witness such soulful renditions, as Sheff encountered little trouble in continuing the evening’s fine form. Of course, The Toff stood silently, diligent in their appreciation of the performance.

Sheff indulged in a tailor-made set, traipsing through an extensive back-catalogue. The strategy proved a real treat for long-time followers. Among the stand-outs were Plus Ones and A King And Queen. Sheff eventually made the transition from guitar to piano, granting Your Past Life As A Blast a new lease on life. The keyed interlude proved a masterstroke, offering another tender dimension to the evening that had previously gone unexplored. A transition to back to the six-stringed instrument was on the cards, of course, with Sheff moving to perform Wake And Be Fine. Ultimately, his solo show offered an excellent navigation of favourites past and present, delighting a venue packed to the rafters.

This evening threatened a fairly monotonous exercise, billed, essentially, as three men with a guitar each. All three performers, however, would defy expectation via their own individual merits. The enigmatic Sheff would ultimately steal the show though, capping off a top evening of acoustic magic.