I’ve seen a few shows in St George’s Church; all of them excellent. None of them felt more appropriate than the concert by Sun Kil Moon. Mark Kozelek delivered a performance so passionate yet natural, and narratives so finely tuned yet ephemerally flowing on a wave of spirituality, that there was an undeniably religious zeal to it all. Whilst guitars were tuned or water was located the audience waited in respectful silence in the pews like a pious congregation, and when song requests were shouted out at the end it felt like people were joyously declaring their faith.

 

It was a wonderful gig; bell-like clarity, soulful touch applied by all of the players, Kozelek’s unmistakeable vocal given centre stage. 'I Can’t Live Without My Mother’s Love' went down brilliantly with its adroit piano and soft brushed drums, and it’s impossible not to be moved by the sadness soaked 'Caroline'.

 

In between numbers, Kozelek is softly spoken with a heavy drawl. None of his addresses are pre-planned, it’s just a flow of consciousness and rambling stories (much like his lyrics) but everything feels sincere. So, when he declares that “Brighton is my favourite city in the UK”, you believe it. Likewise, when Kozelek says that “my heart goes out to Nick Cave’s family” as an improvised line in the fantastically sprawling 'I Watched The Film The Song Remains The Same', it feels real and right.
 

'Gustavo' and 'UK Blues' are enthusiastically welcomed encores even if both are somewhat on the ramshackle side, and Sonny and Cher’s 'I Got You Babe' is performed with a lucky member from the audience.

 

The gig finishes with 'Ceiling Gazing' as the two guitarists join forces to create a cloud of blissful atmospherics that completely takes the listener off and away to another place. Its sincere lyric of thankfulness ends the set perfectly and the slow climax is an object lesson in control and class. Does going to church get any better than this?

Adam Atkins

 

Website: sunkilmoon.com