Concert Review: Michael James Keane – Wine Cellar June 30, 2019

What better way to spend a cold winter’s night than with the dark, brooding music of Michael James Keane and a roomful of like-minded fans.

For those unfamiliar with Keane… and I count myself among them… he’s a Wellingtonian who has been in bands So Laid Back Country China and John The Baptist, making music described as “canyon folk.”

Keane released a solo album, The Cascade, at the end of last year. It is made up of eight original songs, mournful and intense, with production that is subtle and sparse.

The main calling card, however, is the voice. Keane possesses a deep, rich baritone that immediately recalls Nick Cave or Stuart Staples of Tindersticks.

Despite the fact that it was a Sunday night, there was a good-size crowd at the Wine Cellar. I’m guessing the early start, Keane went on at 8pm, helped.

This was a full band affair, with Keane on vocals and acoustic guitar, and the tiny stage filled up by electric guitarist Donnie Cuzens, keyboard player Lucy Beeker, Symon Palmer on bass and drummer Callum Gay. Both Palmer and Gay performed on the album, which was the source of all seven selections played during the 30-minute set.

They began with, appropriately enough, the sound of cascading notes generated by the electric guitar and keyboard, as album opener, Hello, Can You Please Stop The Cascade, got things underway.

Sure enough, Keane’s voice is as impressive on stage as it is recorded.

This was followed by Perscus, the second track on the album. Keane led the way on this one with his own guitar and voice alone for the first half of the tune.

“I never wanted to be scared of my life”, he sang in a voice that was both fragile and powerful.

His fingers caused the guitar to squeak as he played. This would normally be an irritation, but the sound seemed to fit the mood and the rest of the band eventually joined in, quietly.

Michael then spoke, telling us that he was going to play more songs from The Cascade, and indeed, he did play the entire record, save one instrumental track.

Songs such as Steady Doom, A Dry House and I Was Dancing seemed to create a world enveloped in darkness and pain, but yet dreamlike and cathartic.

After thirty minutes, it was over. The musicians put down their instruments, the lights and music came up and we were back in the real world.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Veronica McLaughlin:

Michael James Keane set list:

1. Hello, Can You Please Stop The Cascade
2. Perscus
3. All The Green Leaves
4. Steady Doom
5. Rode
6. A Dry House
7. I Was Dancing