damien jurado

damien jurado and his stories, that's what i like. and his songs of course, but primarily his storytelling, and the banter in-between songs. and i wasn't disappointed when he took to the stage at the solo gig in haarlem, a taster for what is to come in a couple of months when he is back with a full band to tour his new album, maraqopa (due out towards the end of next month). and herein lies my dilemma: i never know if i prefer the solo act - just one man and his guitar - or the full-on band version (see my similar quandaries with chad vangaalen last year, here). turns out i guess that i can like both equally and, in which case, this gig was an exciting taster of what is to come when he's back in march.




 
  

at some point, i would like to come back here and try and put into words the impact of one of his songs (before the encore) which, with its so-vivid-storytelling, transported me into the situation of the tale being recounted... i can't tell the story as well though, so maybe i'll just keep it in my head.

//full set of photos on flickr here; bamshakalah blogpost here; in-photos gallery set on drownedinsound here

laura gibson

a few days before the damien jurado show, i saw laura gibson at paradiso in amsterdam. her voice is something special, and i now need to check out her album. 

 

 

//a few more are on flickr here

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