On an international tour to promote his first solo album in seven years, Sweden’s José González only had one Melbourne gig – at the zoo – and it was sold out. As a result the lawn was already sheathed with a colourful patchwork of picnic rugs by 6pm. We still managed to find a small green patch close enough to the stage for a decent view. A live video projection of the stage on a large screen provided close-ups for those pushed further back.
It didn’t seem possible, but the crowd actually doubled in the next hour as New Zealand’s Tiny Ruins, AKA Hollie Fullbrook, took the stage solo with her acoustic guitar. Opening with a song inspired by a Yeats poem, her pretty voice and melodious guitar were a beautiful primer for the headline act.
González also opened his set solo on acoustic guitar, with that distinctive, honey-sweet voice providing a delicate delivery of Crosses from his first album Veneer. He was then joined by his band, comprising a second acoustic guitarist, vibes/keyboardist, drummer and percussionist – most of whom provided stunning vocal harmonies on another Veneer track, Deadweight On Velveteen.
You could almost hear a collective heart-flutter from the crowd as González introduced the next song, his acoustic interpretation of Kylie Minogue’s Hand On Your Heart. With just a single drumbeat, guitar and sublime vocals, the once-cheesy pop tune became sonic sorbet with the González magic.
The setlist featured a balanced blend of his earlier original songs and covers, along with several tracks from his latest album Vestiges & Claws; including The Forest, Let It Carry You, and the upbeat, hand-clap rhythms of Leaf Off/The Cave.
A hauntingly beautiful cover of Barbarossa’s Home was followed by the mesmerising minimalism of Massive Attack’s Teardrops. It’s hard to imagine any cover doing that song justice, but González does it with seemingly effortless grace and distinction.
His band is something of an international collective, with members from Adelaide, London and Sweden whose multiple talents enhanced the acoustic delicacy of González’s voice and compositions. Heartbeats featured superb vocal harmonies and subtle percussive instruments like xylophone.
For the encore, González returned solo to play another new track, Open Book, his whistling adding a tinge of Americana. The band joined him for With The Ink Of A Ghost, and the final song, the hugely popular Down The Line, had the audience off their blankets and on their feet for what was effectively a standing ovation.
BY KAYE BLUM
Photo by Ian Laidlaw
Loved: Great outdoor setup and production.
Hated: A little too cosy?
Drank: Cider.
