Ben Howard's Sold-Out Show, Melbourne Night 1 - 25th May 2024

 

BEN HOWARD’S SOLD-OUT SHOW, MELBOURNE NIGHT 1

25th MAY 2024

 

How does an artist paint a rich, sonic atmosphere that completely entrances their audience to the point where they feel as though they have been transported to an otherworldly realm? Well, we can learn a thing or two from Ben Howard.

In celebration of his fifth studio album ‘Is It?’ dropping in June of 2023, the captivating British songwriter and guitarist, Ben Howard was presented by Secret Sounds and Double J to bring his powerful live show to Australia across May. 

After a long-awaited break between visits, the increasingly textured and uplifting artist staged his appearance at The Palais Theatre, St Kilda for Night 1 of his Melbourne run on Saturday 26th May. 

Proudly, Howard chose to have the poignant and nuanced Naarm/Melbourne-based group, Folk Bitch Trio leading the night. What a choice! After a long anticipated wait to experience the group’s live act, I feel grateful to witness their powerful yet calm energy created through their spine-tingling harmonies and evocative lyricism. 

Performing as simply themselves accompanied by a guitar each, the tonal lapis and spruce lighting synergised the artistic value of the contemporary and modern folk trio. 

Choosing from their collection of songs, the group sold the audience their souls with their released and unreleased songs, including the 2023 hit-track ‘Analogue’ solidifying their place within the folk music scene in Australia and on a global level.   

Allowing the audience to be transported to a space of openness and vulnerability ready for Ben Howard, Folk Bitch Trio was a fantastic choice of support, showcasing to crowds the power of musicianship local talent holds within the live music sphere. 

 

Now nestled into seats, the energy within the grandeur of the theatre began lifting and the fixation of eyes set on the stage. Without a moment’s hesitation or theatrics, Ben Howard, and his band wandered merely into the centre stage to an eruption of cheers and claps from a crowd donned with flannels, button-up shirts and beanies - the stereotypical Ben Howard fan.

Choosing to open his set with the second track off of the 2023 album, Ben’s sonic and musical value had audiences peeping into a portal with ‘Walking Backwards.’ Reigning with nostalgia and blends of new and old, the entire band was encouraged with emotive backdrops and imaginative lighting designs. Projections of nature and people in their everyday life, the theme inspired by the chosen visuals paralleled the ‘no gimmick’ attitude that Howard’s music generates. 

Adding to the emotional imagery, the first 15 minutes of the show had Ben Howard and his band covered specifically with a lighting choice that only allowed audience members to see their shadows. This artistic selection ignited eeriness and enchantment, a common theme represented within the ‘Is It?’ album which was being toured. 

Eyes peeled, bodies sunk, ears open and a slight tap of the foot, Ben continued through his setlist, transporting his listeners back to early albums. The understated and humble character Ben portrays is a stark contrast to the power and spine-tingling clarity of his musicianship. It is his music after all the screams loudest, and audience reactions to each ending of a song represent just that. 

Photo ID: Ben Howard and his band performing at The Palais Theatre. Photographed by Darcie James

 

The night featured hit songs ‘Nica Libres At Dusk’ and ‘Someone In The Doorway’ from the 2018 album ‘Noonday Dream’, several tracks ‘Conrad’, ‘Small Things’ and the title track from the 2014 album ‘I Forget Where We Were’ as well as several tracks, including the highly successful ‘Crowhurt’s Meme’ from ‘Collections From The Whiteout’ released in March of 2021. Howard also paid homage throughout his show to the transformative and evolutionary journey his music has taken specifically when pleasing the crowd featuring acoustic versions of ‘Diamonds’ and ‘Gracious’ from his highly celebrated first studio album, ‘Every Kingdom’ released in 2011.

Humouring the audience and their seemingly transparent reactions to the textured sounds created within his performance, Ben’s call out to the crowd “I’m gonna start with those weird sounding ones and then I’ll turn those pedals off”, had us all begging to please keep us entranced within your beautiful sonic, emotional and visual atmosphere. 

Further into the performance, Ben Howard chose to entirely shift the show’s ambience. With now red hues striking the stage and theatre, the perilous themeing of lyricism was starkly contrasted with the bright-sounding chord progressions of ‘Days of Lantana’. A moment of seeming unrest for the difficulties Ben Howard recently faced with health. 

 

Photo ID: Ben Howard and his band during ‘Days Of Lantana’ on 25th May at The Palais Theatre. Photographed by Darcie James

 

For the entire show's duration, the sprawling projections of nature, overshadowed with psychoactive elements alluded to the very essence of Howard’s ‘Is It?’ album, reminding audiences of the unsettling factors underpinning life's experiences. The atmosphere of course created by the instruments on stage - drums, electric guitar, bass guitar and synths - allowed audiences a night of complete mind-shift and transportation. 

The concert was flawless. It is for that reason I want to thank Ben Howard for making my 8-year-long wait to see him truly a night to remember.