The opening chords of ‘Lavender’ drew a warm audience welcome before ‘Let’s Make It Last’ from the new album appeared. Now thw new album is yet to be released and so this was the first time anybody has heard the song. However, it was greeted with polite applause albeit far less than with more familiar songs.  When ‘Burn’ (from TROUBLE) arrived it was greeted with huge enthusiasm from both me and the fans. The passion and emotional was something to withold and was one of the night’s very special moments. LaMonatgne is a deeply expressive singer and this song proved it. Three more songs from the seminal TROUBLE album also arrived including an explosive extened version of ‘Trouble’, and during the encore the plaintive tones of ‘Jolene’ before the utterly beautiful ‘All The Wild Horses’.

LaMontagne’s sideman though undemonstrative played a blinder and added something special with his backing vocal on ‘Such A Simple Thing’.  LaMontagne is not the most animated performer but prefers to devote his enormous talent and energy to expressing his songs. Both the audience and I left having been hugely entertained, deeply moved and not a little inspired.

Setlist

No Other Way
Beg Steal Or Borrow
Lavender
In My Own Way
Airwaves
Let’s Make It Last*
Old Before Your Time (Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs song)
Such a Simple Thing*
Burn
Empty
To the Sea*
Supernova
Like Rock & Roll and Radio (Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs song)
Trouble (Extended)

Encore:

Jolene
All the Wild Horses
Wouldn’t It Make a Lovely Photograph

* Latest album (PART OF THE LIGHT) songs

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