Somenewjoannanewsom yes Ys yes

The ethereal and wonderful harpist, pianist and singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom played last night in the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin and this finally offered an opportunity to see her perform live for the first time. Having missed her play the both All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) with Matt Groening, and The Green Man festival in Wales this past August, it was very exciting to have her in Dublin again since she played the Olympia in April 2007. Since the release of her third studio album, 'Have One On Me' (Feb '10), she was with her 5 piece band playing the first night of their tour, having confessed to doing very little practice over the summer months.
 
Newsom was incredible to see however and certainly failed to disappoint, as she honestly felt she had done after her last Dublin performance, candidly telling the story of her overhearing in a restaurant the table behind her criticize the gig she just played, and having to escape under a friends coat. This, also a brave story to tell at the start of just the third song to a larger Dublin crowd with the new Grand Canal capacity of 2111 people who were slow to warm up after Roy Harper's support gig. The sound in the new theatre was pitch perfect and beautifully crisp, like she was singing next to your ear. This assisted nicely with the deciphering of her astonishingly cryptic lyrics which I would love to have her explain to me one day. Her, me, Lola Montez and a few dozen daddy longlegs.

There would be more photos but the lady snapped at me for taking my camera out at the venue.:

Here is the set list from the gig. September 14 2010, Grand Canal Theatre. Check out the trombone player who also requires some attention.

1. jackrabbits
2. have one on me
3. easy
4. kingfisher
5. inflamatory writ
6. autumn
7. soft as chalk
8. monkey and bear
9. good intentions paving company
10. Encore:
11. peach, plum, pear

During the gig she had to pause for a few minutes to superglue her fingers from playing the harp as she had not kept her callus's during the summer. She was engaging in some banter with the crowd. I wanted to ask her would she try playing our new Samuel Beckett Bridge which opened in Dublin recently..