Firstly, let me start off by apologising for the tardy response to this review; it’s taken a couple of days to really let what I witnessed sink in.
Starting a gig with cabin instructions and a 20-minute obscure documentary about Prince Madoc, who discovered America before anyone else apparently, is a bold statement.
It’s a testament to Gruff Rhys‘ credibility that the audience stands in silence and divulges the information.
After the film, it’s business as usual, well as usual for Rhys; what follows is an amazingly crafted delineation of John Evans’ search for a long lost Welsh speaking Indian tribe in America.
The crux of which makes up American Interior; there’s a lot more to it than that, but I really don’t want to spoil the event for you should you get the chance to see it – you need to!
Part slide show, part intimate story and part five-piece rock band, it’s no doubt that tonight feels weird; a great weird.
Interspersing cleverly crafted and ridiculously humorous stories was the cleverly crafted and ridiculously beautiful songs form American Interior.
“Your visions carry me,” Rhys sings; it’s probably how most of the audience feel.
‘Iolo’ is up next and it’s all a bit slick; this is a tour de force in live performance.
The music is beautiful and heartfelt, while Rhys’ storytelling is dry, morose and hilarious.
John Evans even makes an appearance tonight (in puppet form, not surprising eh?) and the band go through the highlights of American Interior.
‘Shark Ridden Waters’ and ‘The Last Conquistador’ are amazing live, as is ‘Allweddellau Allweddol’ in the most ridiculous manner of using a vinyl single onstage to form the sample.
Rhys has a plethora of experience in playing live, but this is extraordinary – try to picture a Welsh western.
Rhys has crafted an amazing niche for himself, which considering his previous musical choices and directions, is a stellar achievement; this show engages and thrills everyone in the audience.
Oh, I nearly forgot; after Rhys had played the concept of American Interior he returns and smashes a half hour encore of solo highlights.
‘Candylion’ and the most intense version of ‘Gyrru Gyrru Gyrru’ that I think I will ever see.
All in all, an absolute masterpiece of live performance; you need to witness this.
Words: Andrew Melrose
Photo: Angela Canavan
