Live Review: John C. Reilly & Friends, Sarah Silverman & Steven Smyth

It might be a long way from sharing a scene with Richard Gere or Will Ferrell on a studio lot in LA to leading a Factory Theatre audience in a rendition of Goodnight Irene in Marrickville, but such is the life of John C Reilly. In Australia to “serve my lord and master Disney”  that is, promote new film Wreck-It-Ralph, Reilly found time to perform a delightfully intimate set with his 'band', renowned indie folk artist Tom Brosseau and the charming Becky Stark.

First up, local Steve Smyth mixed a gruff earthiness with melodies that seemed to float away light as a feather. Though he was armed with a guitar, the instrument took a backseat to his powerful voice, and it was the phrasing and lyrics, rather than the musical backing, that gave his songs shape.

Before the main attraction, the audience was treated to a relaxed but still caustically funny set from Reilly's Ralph co-star Sarah Silverman. About as far from Disney as you could get, Silverman finished her spot with a song of her own, and showing off a rather impressive voice managed to drop quite a lot of c-bombs into her three minute ditty.

There was certainly none of that kind of business when John C Reilly & Friends appeared onstage. The music they sang was a lot gentler, coming from names like the Carter Family, The Stanley Brothers, Delmore Brothers, Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. Standing around one microphone, Reilly and Brosseau finger plucked acoustic guitars while the three harmonised beautifully. Stark's clear, pure voice with the barest hint of a traditional folk lilt was matched by her comedic banter with the audience and Reilly between songs. While Reilly, clearly at home on the stage, enjoyed telling the audience stories about filming in Queensland and meeting Australia's most fearsome predator – the Cassowary – and seemed genuinely chuffed to be playing to a couple of hundred people on a Monday night on the other side of the world.

Now it's up to Bluesfest, Port Fairy or one of Australia's many other music festivals to make sure Reilly & Friends come back to play in front of much bigger audiences soon.