This was a very welcome return to Irish shores for a singer songwriter who is very popular on this island of deep rooted musical traditions. His last visit was in 2018 and judging by the sizeable crowd in Whelan’s tonight his decision to play a short Irish visit went down extremely well among the faithful.
His songs are often centred around the search for home, and also the quest of the incurable romantics who suffer unrequited love more often than most. Of course, being a travelling minstrel is no recipe for success in either of these areas. Joshua tells the crowd of his move away from L.A. and having sold his home. He has been living a nomadic existence for the past three years of touring and visiting countries wherever his creative muse takes him.
No wonder he still looks to define the true meaning of home in his songs. Or maybe the truth lies in trying to live ‘in the moment’ and acknowledging that feeling as the essence of being ‘home.’ There is no doubt that trying to sustain a steady relationship from the road is not for the fainthearted, and when you are just available on a sporadic basis, then there is no real bedrock upon which to build something of real value that can last.
Tonight, Joshua plays a very generous set of some twenty songs that span his career and ten albums to date. He draws inspiration from the crowd calling out for specific favourites and asks for the names those who shout out, together with their back stories as to how they found the songs. He also plays songs from a new album ONE DAY HOME which was released this year, and is very impressed to receive a request for one of the new songs already – usually it’s only the old favourites that everyone wants to hear.
Joahua is in buoyant mood and his confident and engaging stage presence is very much wrapped in empathy, warmth and witty observations. He is joined onstage by Happie Hoffman on harmony vocals and gifted guitarist Gabe Burdulis who dovetails superbly with Joshua as they play in unison on these songs of insight and longing. The setlist covers a lot of ground, from debut album songs like Everything'll Be Alright (Will's Lullaby), Winter and Only You (cover of Yazoo hit); through favourites like Brand New Day, Vegetable Car, No Envy No Fear, Beautiful Day, Here Right Now, High and Low and I’d Rather Be With You. The new album is featured with songs like You Don’t Need Anyone, I’m Coming Home, Let Me Be Right, I Believe I’m Falling, Let It Show and Same Star, the latter a song written to a recent girlfriend, in hopes of shortening the distance across different time zones. I have no doubt that over time these new songs will join the existing list of firm favourites in the minds of the loyal fan base. On first listen, there are some real gems here.
The final song tonight is a cover of Dylan’s Don't Think Twice, It's All Right and it resonates with the theme of moving on. That is what defines Joshua Radin’s life these days, and the constant motion is on the one hand quite liberating, while on the other, a source of impermanence. Joshua is an impressive talent and his honeyed vocals reflect his contemplative songwriting with such a natural flow. It was a privilege to witness this gig in such intimate surroundings and full marks to promoters Singular Artists for booking his return. Hopefully Joshua will revisit before too long and build upon the success of this special evening.
Coda: Honourable mention to opening act Happie Hoffman. She sings sweetly constructed songs and has a warm presence, with her fingerstyle guitar playing and her joyous smile. She performs her own compositions Close, Real Love, What I Needed, Shooting Star and a cover of Somewhere Over the Rainbow – her favourite song – making many new friends with her excellent playing and easy manner.
Review and photos by Paul McGee