American singer-songwriter, master mind, and part time comedian, Samuel Beam, or as most people know him, Iron and Wine, preformed a multi-dimensional show at the Paramount Theater. What may or may not have been a sold out concert also including support from soul jazz artist Lauren Mvula from across the big blue ocean, the UK. What would have been a boring Monday night was suddenly a night worth remembering thanks to these two stellar artists and their unique ability to evoke so many emotions and creativity through their most powerful instrument: their voice.
Lights down, harp standing still mystically, upright bass, empty keyboard sit untouched on stage ready to explode into life for opening act Lauren Mvula. For 99% of those wondering…it is pronounced Mmm-vula. Yeah, youāre right, her last name is better then yours and so is her voice – ten times over. One fan, miss Allie Leaf, even described her voice to be like an instrument. When an artist has the control over her voice, she commands the stage. Mvula owned more. She had the whole room in her hand, with her powerful voice echoing the beautiful walls of the Paramount Theater. Her songs are tough enough to fight through any thing – especially when everything is simplified down to just sparse piano keys and the instrument she was born with.
Even though Samuel Beam set himself to compete with a difficult opening act, the next 2 hours of indie folk, new directional jazz melodies, and impromptu comedy sessions between songs was beyond what any Iron and Wine fan could have expected. Compared to everyone else attending the concert I was probably the least musically attuned to every Iron and Wine song. But this Iron and Wine naivety only made what was forth coming all that more intoxicating. While I experienced much of the classic Iron and Wine solo bits I was expecting, what I experienced was a new side to Iron and Wine. Armed with a full band, more then I can count on my hands, each member brought an expansion of noise that was able to elude the typical acoustical guitar and vocals. Adventuring into the galaxy of blues and jazz Samuel Beam really shows that he is capable of owning any genre of music that takes his fancy. Was this what the fans wanted to hear I though? Coming from one exuberant fan Sam, āIt was very GOOD!ā. So good a drop of tear fell from her eye during the performance. Like the layers of a brilliantly arranged melody or transitions from verse to chorus and breakdown so was the concert as a whole. Not only was there an unforeseen blues and jazz edge to the concert but simple comedy between songs. Nothing to over the top but simple remarks about the nonsense being screamed Ā from the crowd. He had a remark for everything from fans yelling they loved him, to the song requests Ā chanted at him to play, or even when he messed up a song because he forgot how to play. Easy going as they come, Samuel Beam’s solo performances was the the highlight of the night when he was really able to let loose and gaining such great heights. Even throwing in cover of a local artist many Seattle music enthusiasts might have heard of before – The Postal Service. Done in a such a unique way it could have easily been heard as an original Iron and Wine. The next time Iron and Wine plays a show in Seattle and covers the Postal Service, I demand that Ben Gibbard join him on stage. No excuses next time Samuel! And until next time enjoy a few photographs from an evning of music, comedy, and musical adventure across a range of soul, R&B, indie folk and jazz.
