Josh PykeLeft-handed songwriter Jackson McLaren is young but seasoned, having accompanied Josh Pyke on a previous solo tour. Sincere and good-natured, he is every bit a folk troubadour with a clear tenor voice and talent on the six-string. Delicate finger-picking and rollicking rhythmic strumming showcase how comfortable he is on his instrument, a vital part of his songs that are strong, but not yet heart-stopping. McLaren's themes are mature; wry observations of friends or musings on the concept of death mean his writing and delivery echoes in the tune of Bob Dylan and John Denver. Closer Farewell This House beautifully illustrates the contradictory inner world of an introverted performer, and indeed shows the pain of anyone who has ever felt out of place.
Josh Pyke begins by building Bug Eyed Beauty layer by vocal layer which hushes the cheering crowd. While looping itself is no longer a particularly novel concept, there is something magical in watching a musician so perfectly articulate their singular vision right before your eyes. The arrangements are painstakingly crafted but still spontaneous and dynamic through the entire set. A few harmonies, a makeshift kick drum from the body of the guitar and an iPad's piano key is all it takes to recreate just enough of the density of Pyke's recorded work in a live setting. At the core of it though, he is a powerhouse performer. It is impressive how tightly he executes the intricate guitar lines and wordy songs – and with a voice that cannot be faulted. Presumably benefiting from vocal training, the falsetto reaches of Order Has Abandoned Us, Our House Breathing and The Summer are spine-tingling.
Songs from across his whole catalogue are on show tonight, from the haunting to the jaunty crowd favourites. Memories And Dust has the whole room softly singing along, with the harmonies missing from the stage found in the audience. So too with Sew Your Name and the gloriously cuss-filled Lighthouse Song. White Lines Dancing is the embodiment of Pyke's ability to marry tender melodies with bittersweet lyrics about love, loss and fear of time running out. That tension is made clear in a few songs, like The Doldrums and Vibrations In Air. The gratitude towards his fans is evident, and his banter is tangential and hilarious. “This will be my 'last song',” he cheekily says to the crowd before returning for the encore. Love Lies is favourite set bookend, the vocal layers still looping hypnotically as he walks off the stage.
