Kevin Morby performed at Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre on Tuesday, 3rd October 2023. Billy Burgess reviews.
Kevin Morby spent most of his time on stage at Melbourne’s sold-out Northcote Theatre playing a customised copy of a Fender Jazzmaster. It sounded clean and crisp, with just a little bit of gain that made every chord ring out with pleasing clarity. At no point did Morby trigger a distortion pedal, and nor did he need to – the show was a lesson in how to amplify intricacies by going easy rather than going hard.
Kevin Morby – ‘I Have Been to the Mountain’
Morby’s three-piece backing band – comprising drummer Eric Slick, bassist/guitarist Liam Kazar and saxophonist/percussionist Cochemea Gastelum – displayed similar restraint throughout the 90-minute performance. The focal point was often the bass drum, and not because the level was overpowering in the mix, but because the relative quiet onstage allowed Slick’s kicks to cut through in a manner consistent with the instrument’s design.
The setlist rounded up all the highlights from Morby’s solo career, taking in songs from 2013’s Harlem River right up to last year’s This Is a Photograph. Support act Lo Carmen proved an apt duet partner on Photograph’s country ballad, ‘Bittersweet, TN’. Morby was in the zone during ‘I Have Been to the Mountain’ and ‘Destroyer’, both from 2016’s Singing Saw. The latter was one of a few songs for which Morby swapped out the electric guitar for keys.
Everyone onstage was a competent multi-instrumentalist, but they never lost their cool trying to account for the extra layers of instrumentation found on Morby’s recordings. Morby knew to trust the integrity of his songwriting and his singing voice, and the crowd followed wherever he led. Likewise, Morby’s voice betrayed not a hint of strain, indicating the way he sounds on record is not an affectation but just what comes out when he’s in an inspired state.
Kevin Morby – ‘Beautiful Strangers’
Morby began the encore with an ad hoc cover of Silver Jews’ ‘Random Rules’. It was the night’s most stripped back moment, illuminating the heartbreak and humour of David Berman’s original lyrics. Morby’s best-known song, ‘Beautiful Strangers’, was next – it goes for six-plus minutes and has no chorus, but the lyrical preoccupation with accepting and expressing love remains deeply resonant.
It might seem like a backhanded compliment to begin a review by appraising the sound mix. But it’s all a reflection of how Morby approaches his craft. His songwriting is earnest and rooted in manifest enthusiasm, but it’s also unremarkable – he doesn’t attempt to break new ground, and that’s completely fine.
In between what felt like every second song, Morby told us how happy he was to be back here and playing his biggest Melbourne show to date. It was a Tuesday night following a long weekend, and Morby’s high spirits were welcome. But even if the crowd wasn’t in especially rowdy form, it’s hard to imagine anyone left feeling disappointed.
Further Reading
David Berman (Silver Jews, Purple Mountains): 10 Essential Tracks
Wanderer 2023 Gallery: Punters of All Ages Enjoy the Sun at Pambula Beach Music Festival
