Live Review: Karl S Williams, Sawtooth

While the Black Bear Lodge stage is usually bare, tonight it's decked out with whimsical floral arrangements, which is telling of the night's proceedings – pure and fanciful.

The opening act's Aiden Moore is usually the frontman for local neo-psyche troupe Moses Gunn Collective; however, tonight he's performing solo under the name Sawtooth. While he brings simply himself and a guitar to the stage, his performance is much more than that – his many pedal effects bring a bold presence, his vocals are angelic yet commanding, and his sneaky guitar accompanist adds an extra touch of grandeur. Included in his set is a tribute to Don Quixote, and possibly Nick Cave, as he plays a murder ballad of his own.

Karl S. Williams' set kicks off with Darkest Cloud, the opening track from the album that he is launching tonight, Heartwood, which is a stunning piece to introduce his accompanists with – they're on cello, back-up guitar and drums. For various tracks he's also joined by a trumpet player and a harmonica player, who act as a shining example of everything in its right place. It must be noted that for Be'elzebub, where the talents of the harmonica are utilised, the floor of the venue has never shaken so tremendously – the place is literally pulsating to the beat; it's phenomenal. Williams takes the stage on his own for a few tracks and reminds us of how endearing he is as a solo artist by performing a trumpet solo of his own through pursed lips, and then really gets the crowd clapping for White Hotel, which he tells us will keep the devil away. The final track of the night is dedicated to (presumably) his girlfriend, which is a great representation of his character, and a reminder as to why we're all here tonight – love.