The last time the long-haired, rumple-suited Conway Savage ­— most famous as long-term pianist with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds — played the Roisin Dubh, it was just him and his old Yamaha in the small upstairs room. Tonight, touring his recently released Live In Ireland album, the Melbourne musician has brought a couple of accompanists along, and has graduated to the venue’s main stage.
Before his own set begins, he comes out and joins support act Mark Corcoran on the humorous duet ‘It Starts With A Bad Joke’ (“and ends with my hands around your throat!”). It’s a song from Corcoran’s own album, produced by Savage, Moonlight Is X-Raying The Earth.
A quick three-cigarette break later, Savage returns to open his own set with ‘Trail of Broken Hearts’ (also the opening track of the live album), his talented accompanists Amanda Fox and Robert Tickner adding subtle harmonies to an already beautiful song. Later they break out the keyboards, accordion and 12-string guitar, and really go for it.
By his own admission, Savage isn’t blessed with the most golden of voices, but he keeps within his vocal range and sings these heartfelt, melancholic songs like he’s lived through the often painful stories they relate – and perhaps he has. Not that the show is without humour. While his catalogue is mostly comprised of dark and achingly bittersweet ballads, Savage is adept at lightening the mood. As he finishes crooning the achingly sad ‘These Are The Waves’, he looks up and grins. “Right,” he drawls, laconically, “I reckon it’s probably about time we slowed it down a little.” Much laughter ensues.
Highlights of the evening included his unique interpretation of the old classic ‘Que Sera Sera’, a movingly soulful ‘Sisters and Brothers’, a superb take on ‘Quickie For Ducky’, and a full on cover of Jim Yamouridis’ ‘The Cross’. He encores with a wonderful new song, ‘To Be So Lonely’, which will presumably feature on the next studio release.
It wasn’t quite the same setlist, but tonight’s gig was probably even better than the Manorhamilton show where Live In Ireland was recorded last October. And if you’ve heard that most excellent album, you’ll know that that’s saying a lot. Savage stuff!