The summer series of @ The Park gigs is clearly a very good idea indeed, bringing fantastic names to one of the most picturesque parts of Dublin. Thus far, The Coronas and Villagers have played to big crowds but suspicions that Joanna Newsom would draw a far more select audience prove to be true. It’s a gorgeous evening in a spot surrounded by the Dublin Mountains, so it feels quite odd to wander from the warm night air into a dark tent that’s barely half-full. Suddenly, you’re back at some forgotten afternoon Oxegen slot.
No matter, as soon as Ms. Newsom takes to the stage, everything else fades away. Her gigs now have a strange sense of narrative, taking you on some wonderful road trip as the music ebbs and flows through a number of stunning peaks. Tonight starts, fittingly, with Joanna alone at the harp, playing a song from her first record. ‘Bridges And Balloons’ has matured well – less contrary than before, her more mannered voice finding new nuances. It’s also brief, by her standards, and a perfect way to kick off. Over the next few hours, we’re treated to the pick of her three albums, from the epic-in-its-way ‘Emily’ to ‘In California’’s unmistakable Joni Mitchell-isms. The first night of her tour, there are a few mistakes here and there, but they only serve to get the crowd onside. After a note-perfect rendition of ‘Easy’, Newsom smiles: “Hopefully I’m done making mistakes for the night.”
The initial hushed awe grows to full-bodied cheers and happily, the crowd size swells too. Not that Newsom particularly needs heavy audience participation – alone she is sublime; with her band, in her element. Extremely accomplished, the three musicians that share her stage clearly have an intimate, instinctive link with the singer, particularly long-time drummer Neal Morgan, whose timing is as good as his tailoring. The finale finds Newsom cheerily apologising once again, before launching into the beautiful blues of ‘Good Intentions Paving Company’. From her Have One On Me record, it is a new fan favourite that suggests the best of Joanna Newsom is yet to come. You suspect those tents might just get a little more crowded with each Irish visit.