Damien Rice
Paradiso, Amsterdam
15/08/03
Before heading out to see Damien Rice play at Paradiso, my concert companion, who had only listened to Damien’s album once or twice, asked me if I knew what the guy looked like. I had a seen a couple of photos online and answered “like a skinny Irish boy.” Later that night, when Damien stepped out onto the Paradiso stage, I found that the photos had not been misleading; he really is a skinny Irish boy indeed, but one that, on record and live, has a big voice that rings with emotional clarity.
I myself had been introduced to Damien Rice’s music only a few weeks ago, but I was instantly drawn into his latest album, O, which is reminiscent of many singer-songwriters such as Nick Drake, Damien Jurado and Tom McRae. I had quite high expectations for seeing him live since I’d heard that he was incredible as a live performer. Overall, my expectations were not let down as he played an hour and a half set that included just about every song off O.
Damien’s touring band was a bit stripped down for the Amsterdam show though, as the vocalist from the album, Lisa Hannigan, was not there, and neither was the cellist. So it was, in his words, “just the boys tonight” – himself, a bassist and a drummer – and this changed the mood of the songs quite differently from the album. They became a lot rockier and jammier, with many songs building into a loud collage of vocals and guitar parts. It was these parts of the songs that did make me disappointed in the show, and it seems to be something that many bands, of many styles, do these days, even if it’s not something you’d expect from their music. I can’t say I like it very much either; I’ve more of a feeling that every song shouldn’t be made into an extended, 10-minute set-closer that usually doesn’t energize the audience, but loses them and loses the song that was being performed in the first place.
But enough negativity, let’s focus on the positive moments in the show.
Most of the best songs from the album, such as ‘Volcano’, ‘Blower’s Daughter’ and ‘Cannonball’, came off brilliantly live, albeit minus Lisa’s sweet voice and the softening of a cello. A newly-written song was introduced that had a powerful chorus with a part where Damien’s voice just chilled right through me. I definitely look forward to hearing that one on the next album.
The band created their own moody atmosphere by claiming that they were shy and requesting for the lights to be turned way, way, waaaaay down low. It was quite nice to listen to someone performing live, hardly able to see their form on stage, instead just focusing on their voice filling a hall. Granted, for us in the back, that solitude of Damien’s voice was ruined by people who apparently don’t mind paying money to stand about talking to each other, or to loudly make fun of the person they paid to see perform (surely there are so many entertainment options in Amsterdam that you can find something you like?) Near the end of the show, though, the mood was salvaged when the lights were turned off completely, the disco ball was turned on in place of the stage lights, and the audience sang along to the chorus of ‘Eskimo’.
The last song of the night also validated a show that had felt distracting and a bit disappointing (did I mention I happened to stand behind three middle-aged, very enthusiastic fans who were the worst dancers in the world?!) The beautiful ‘Cold Water’, without notice, morphed into a cover of Leonard Cohen’s 'Hallelujah' which suited Damien Rice’s talents perfectly. I left, at least, with a smile on my face.
Marie Diamond
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