Old mate Matt Corby is at it again winning the hearts, minds and loins of females in every direction. Tonight, he takes his Resolution tour to a jittery Festival Hall audience serviced on warm-up duties by London folk trio Bear’s Den as well as Bree Tranter. Tranter, formerly of The Middle East fame, with her ethereal and angelic vocals is a highlight when she resurrects a ripping version of Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2 U.
Corby casts a small figure over his guitar when he emerges. Kitted out in a black T-shirt and jeans, he looks more like a roadie than a rock star in the blacked-out stage under the smokey spotlight. Overwhelming the venue with an intimate, almost mournful opening, he kicks off the set with a list of slow burners such as It’s Good To Be Alone, Made of Stone, Untitled and Water and Wine. Playing one of his biggest venues to date, there are no frills or added extras to this performance but there’s an undeniable stage presence and a serious talent.
He moves seamlessly from one song and one instrument to the next, with very little banter in between. In soft pillow whispers he greets the crowd who hang off his every word and introduces a few songs. The reception from the audience is shrill and relentless until Corby pulls out the trump card that silences their screams: his voice. With an incredible strength that comes from the depths of his belly and a range that shifts from towering and powerful to delicate and vulnerable, it’s something that can only be fully appreciated once heard live.
Obvious standouts from the night come from better-known tracks such as Brother and Resolution. They take the second half of the set to more upbeat places yet don’t quite steal the show. With only a guitar and his voice, he manages to conjure some swagger with an acoustic version of The Black Keys’ Lonely Boy followed by some jazzed-out vocal scatting on a cover of The Who’s bluesy Trick of the Light.
A little audience teasing ensues before My False rounds out the set as encore and the entire band is brought onstage. As a collective they belt out the almost-evangelic lyrics in a chorus-singing session and close an immensely polished show that’s been a long time coming.
BY ISABELLA UBALDI
Loved: Corby’s almost-ferocious beard.
Hated: The crowd’s chatter during songs.
Drank: Beer.
