Jack Johnson’s most impressive achievement isn’t that the surfer-turned-singer has joined the double talented brigade of footballers-turned-chefs or comedians-turned-activists. Nor is it that he’s so successful in this venture, that in the time it took to get the beers in at our local, he sold out Vicar St, got the gig upgraded to The Point, and sold that out too – though that’s something that his mother would no doubt like to frame and put in the front room. No, above that, Johnson has succeeded where many an act has failed: he’s ignored the expanse of the oversized warehouse and transformed it into a snug little venue. Just with 8,000 people.
Perhaps this feat is aided by the nature of the Hawaii native’s songs. While on record Johnson is mildly impressive, played live with the help of backing band the Animal Liberation Orchestra, he encapsulates why it is we persevere with singer-songwriters when there’s so many reasons to gather every acoustic guitar into one building and send in the termites. It’s the sun-kissed, relaxed, almost improvised feel to what’s he’s playing. It’s the laugh out loud lyrics which, miraculously for the venue, you can hear word perfect. And Lord knows this guy isn’t short a tune or two. Everything from ‘Bubble Toes’ to ‘Girl I Wanna Lay You Down’ is perfect for a good ol’ sing-song, and if you don’t know how it goes, you will by the second verse.
Yet the jewel in tonight’s crown is piano/accordian/melodica player Zach Gill, whose onstage entertainment (playing piano with the fluidity of tentacle arms and displaying some spot-on dancing skills) provides the killer gambit: a ‘you had to be there’ in-joke, usually only found at intimate shows.
Tonight, Jack Johnson plays for over two fun-filled hours. It speaks volumes for the quality of his show that it flits by as quickly as his rise to superstardom, and leaves a trail of converts in its wake – your reviewer included. Genius.