This is such a welcome return to Dublin for a songsmith who, were he Irish, could perhaps stake a claim to be included among some of our literary greats. His story songs create alternative lives and his descriptive talents are second to none when it comes to painting a vista of life on this mortal coil. Craig Finn illustrates the dignity in daily struggle, the frailty and strength to be found in equal measure among our collective experiences, and reflects on ways we somehow forge a meaningful path through life, in all its complexities.
Craig Finn has a seat at the table with the greatest exponents of the human condition and his insightful craft is so finely honed over decades of songwriting that he stands tall among his contemporaries. The story songs that he creates are the woven threads of Flash Fiction, contemporary plays, fringe performance, and beat poetry. The characters come alive in his songs and we want to follow their journeys as they negotiate the unseen rapids of daily living. Compassion, empathy and a knowing acceptance run through the songs and it is without doubt one of the great pleasures on a cold and rainy night in Dublin to witness his creative muse in such an intimate setting.
The capacity crowd could not be more supportive and they listen in hushed reverence as the songs unfold, painting characters that are at once familiar and so much a part of a world in which we all could meet in our daily routines. They are at once believable and authentic in the mini-plays where they exist and their challenges are part of the glue that binds us all together.
Craig Finn grew up in Minneapolis and, given the current volatility in his city, he keeps everything on an even keel tonight regarding any political speeches, restricting his comments to a simple “you may have seen it in the news recently.” He makes special mention to his band, who join him for the second half of the set, and notes the sacrifice they have made to travel to Europe, leaving family behind, in support of his tour, at a time when so much unrest exists in his home state.
All three of the musicians in the Band Of Forgiveness (so aptly named) live in Minneapolis also, and Nelson Devereaux (saxophone, flute, clarinet), plus Joe and Ethan (whose surnames are not highlighted), display so much talent on electric guitars, keyboards, and drum samples. Their playing in support of these spoken-word songs is akin to jazz experimentation as they interpret the song dynamics.
Ireland is steeped in a storytelling tradition and if we were looking to recognise an honorary bard, then Craig Finn comes very close. You find it in the detail of the lyrics, the minutiae contained in the descriptive words that populate the lyrics and that hit a bullseye in every song. There’s forgiveness and redemption in all the songs, as if despite our worst natures we can always turn toward feelings of fresh hope. Many of the songs are from dark places but the need for optimism is always there, just beyond the next horizon.
The songs tonight cover two separate sets. Craig opens up the show with an acoustic solo performance of seven gems, including Maggie, I’ve Been Searching For Our Son, Be Honest, Tangletown, Crumbs, Dennis and Billy, This Is What It Looks Like, and Magic Marker (Craig suggests that the latter is his favourite in a long list). There is a short break while everyone gets the chance to digest and discuss such a strong start to the evening, with the room buzzing on the electricity generated. Everything went up a notch when Craig returned with his three supporting musicians who graced the performance in their ensemble playing and excelled across a further seventeen songs of the highest quality.
The creative use of wind instruments and keyboard swathes add greatly to the performance dynamic and the two most recent albums, ALWAYS BEEN and A LEGACY OF RENTALS are featured across fifteen songs in a set that includes many highlights, with God In Chicago, Clayton, Betheny, Preludes and Fletcher’s being received like old friends with enthusiastic applause. Craig talks of not trying to create a Walt Disney version of love in his songs and the couples featured often struggle for common ground a lot of the time.
Other highlights are the superb Shamrock, I Walk With A Cane, Messing With the Settings, People Of Substance, All These Perfect Crosses and Due To Depart. Quite how he can remember all the words in his burgeoning repertoire is a feat of great dedication to his work ethic. Not one of the songs performed tonight comes anywhere near being just ordinary and this is song craft of the highest order,
It all comes to an ending all too soon as the evening concludes and we all make our individual journeys out into the night, just like we are playing roles and characters in one of Craig’s songs. While there is no such thing as the perfect gig, this one ran very close, and the experience was acknowledged and shared by all present. A very special evening.
Review and photo by Paul McGee