Live Review: Iron & Wine

It's been five years since Iron & Wine (aka Sam Beam) last graced the hallowed halls of Sydney Opera House's main Concert Hall and, this time around, performing in Joan Sutherland Theatre gave the concert a more intimate feel. 

It's safe to say he's been missed since a diverse crowd filled the room.

In the dark, below a ceiling of fluffy clouds (that later took on a life of their own), his four-piece band took to the stage and started to make soft noise before Beam quietly snuck on, holding his finger to his lips as they warmed into the confines of Winter Prayers. This was followed by a ten-minute ode to the afterlife in The Trapeze Swinger. It was early, but this song was probably the highlight of the evening with the harmonies from percussionist Elizabeth Goodfellow and keyboardist Eliza Hardy-Jones combining seamlessly with Beam's tenor.

Not to be pigeonholed, however, Last Night, from his 2017 album, Beast Epic, was beautifully performed - glitchy, random and musically exquisite. The band was outstanding. Goodfellow, on percussion, delicately balanced vocals and rhythm, making sure every sound was purposeful and perfect.

The crowd started out quiet, but, as the evening progressed, a heady few yelled out requests and expressed admiration. This seemed to invigorate Beam for a while. "You're so well behaved, but so enthusiastic!" he exclaimed before the band departed the stage to allow for him to perform a couple of solo tracks including Right For Sky and his version of Such Great Heights ("That song has treated me well").

The flow of the evening, along with a string, broke during a rollicking rendition of Call It Dreaming, with the replacement guitar not quite behaving. Some playful jibes about guitar technicians later and the original instrument was returned for House By The Sea and About A Bruise. The set was a joy, with songs plucked from his entire back catalogue to emphasise the longevity of this artist.

Some uncouth foot-stomping brougt the band back to the stage for an encore and it was the solemn Sodom, South Georgia that rounded out a gorgeous evening of music and launched the musical component of Sydney's Vivid Festival in great style.