American singer-songwriter M.Ward is virtually unknown on these shores, but the tiny audience of committed fans here is treated to an hour of delicate intensity.
He basically trades in folk, but manages to avoid sounding like his contemporaries. Most importantly, he sounds nothing like a Dylan impersonator. The voice is full of weathered emotion, and resonates hauntingly around the Glee Club.
For the casual observer, an entire gig may be a little difficult to stomach, but M.Ward has a knack of drawing you in. There are no memorable, catchy tunes on display tonight (Jack Johnson this
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ain’t) and no stage show, but once you’re hooked, it’s difficult to let go.
There won’t have been many converts after this performance, as there wasn’t really anyone there to convert in the fist place. He’s hardly MTV material, but the gig served as a confirmation of the simple power of a man and a guitar. If you like music heavy on emotion, but that won’t scare the kids, then give this guy a go.
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