Although Damien Jurado’s newest record features layers of lush, dense instrumentation, his set at Red 7 last night treated long-time fans to an incredibly intimate solo set. Jurado played alone with an acoustic guitar, seated on a completely blank stage. This setup, along with Jurado’s minimal interactions with the crowd, created a focused and intensely intimate show. I’ve never–again, never–heard Red 7 quieter for a performance as Jurado wove a spell with beautiful, arresting acoustic songs.
I arrived late after covering Silver Mt. Zion at Mohawk and taking my time getting to the show. I kicked myself for not rushing over faster, but I’ve never known Red 7 to start a headliner before midnight, and I’m lucky I showed up when I did. So, hey, Red 7, can we get a text alert or something next time you’re going to start bands at 9:00 sharp when the doors are listed at 9:00? Usually that means doors at 9:00, first band at 10:00…err…10:15…ish… and the headliner around 12:30. I’m all for getting home before 2:00AM so I can catch some sleep before my day job, but let a hardworking music journalist know what’s up.
Unfortunately, I arrived just as Jurado was wrapping up most of the new material included in the set. I was consoled by “Silver Joy,” which was played in the latter half of the evening. Much of the set was composed of songs from past records, notably the direct and relatable “So On, Nevada” from Maraqopa and crowd-pleasing set-ender “Arkansas” from 2010’s Saint Bartlett, which was performed during the four-song encore. As Jurado plays, he is intent and draws the audience into his own meditative trance. The entire performance hinges on his vocals, one of indie music’s most distinct and impressive voices. Listening to Damien Jurado sing is like a visit from the most beautiful specter imaginable; the experience is haunting to be sure, but rather than fear, one feels only comfort.
With only these simple tools–guitar and voice–Jurado can easily hold a crowd’s attention. In his usual way, Jurado spoke with brevity and plainness as well as understated sincerity. Jurado nodded once to the crowd at the end of the night, thanked us quietly and left the stage to uproarious applause from fans. I’ve been lauding this performance to friends all week long. If he’s still set to visit your town, don’t miss it.
All photos © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
