In an interview with Australian Stage Online before his Brisbane performance, Lior remarked about the audience smiles produced by the shadow puppet display as part of his latest Shadows and Light tour.
After seeing his Brisbane Powerhouse performance I can confirm the smiles are entirely involuntary.
The childlike art form produces a similarly immature response: wide-eyed ‘how’d they do that’ wonderment and wide-mouthed infectious grinning. The extraordinary work of Stephen Mushin (fellow designer and his usual collaborator Anna Parry is with-child), a one-man-band behind the screen, brings to life Lior’s bittersweet melodies of love and loss.
Songs like Daniel, the story of drifting apart from a childhood soul mate, take on added poignancy sung to a backdrop of shadowy metaphors. It’s very clever stuff.
And then there’s the man himself, with a set list from two awarded studio albums of folksy pop hooks layered over gorgeous arrangements or pared back to show off a flawless vocal range, and an easy, charismatic stage presence that has quickly made Lior one of the best live performers in the country. It had a theatre of fans eating out of his hands.
Together with the Tailem String Quartet, songs like This Old Love, Bedouin Song and Grey Ocean fill every space of the Powerhouse Theatre. The serious funk of Superstitious offered some fun audience participatory percussion and backing vocals. The surprise guest appearance of Katie Noonan (in place of Sia, from the latest album) on the duet I’ll Forget You was a treat. And even alone on stage, guitar strumming masterfully to the sinuous vocal on Diego and the Village Girl, Lior tells a story through song like few performers can.
This is a live act that needs no gimmick – an encore that finished with a haunting a capella version of the traditional Jewish prayer Avinu Malkeinu more than proved that (and won a deserved standing ovation). But this genuine artist has created, along with his collaborators, something really special.
A magically evening of shadows and light and the finest live music.
Lior
Shadows and Light
Visit: www.lior.com.au
2009 Australian Tour Dates
Fremantle
Fly by Night Club
Thursday 26 February
$30 + BF Tickets
BOCS, 78 Records, Mills Records, Planet Video, www.flybynight.org, 08 9430 5976
Mt Lawley
Luxe Bar Ampitheatre
Friday 27 February
$35 + BF Tickets
BOCS, 78 Records, Mills Records, Planet Video, www.luxebar.com 08 9228 9680
Margaret River
Duckstein Brewery
Saturday 28 February
$35 + BF
Tickets: Venue 08 9755 6500, Beach Life, BOCS www.duckstein.com.au
** Please note no shadow artists to perform at this venue
Sydney
The Studio, Sydney Opera House
Tuesday 14 April- Saturday 18 April
$50 full/ $37.50 restricted view Tickets
Box Office 02 9250 7777 www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Brisbane
Brisbane Powerhouse Museum
Thursday 23 April
$42.50 Tickets
Box Office 07 3358 8600 www.brisbanepowerhouse.org
Cairns
Tanks Arts Centre
Friday 24 April
$35 full/$30 conc Tickets
Box Office 07 4032 6600 www.tanksartscentre.com
Darwin
Darwin Entertainment Centre
Saturday 25 April
$34.50 Tickets
Box Office 08 8980 3333 www.darwinentertainment.com.au
** Please note no shadow artists to perform at this venue
Hobart
Theatre Royal
Thursday 30 April
$38.50 Tickets
Box Office 03 6233 2299 www.theatreroyal.com.au
Melbourne
Athenaeum Theatre
Saturday 2 May
$44.00 Tickets
Box Office 03 9650 1500, Ticketmaster 136 100, www.ticketmaster.com.au
Bendigo
Capitol Theatre
Sunday 3 May
$35.00 Tickets
Box Office 03 5434 6100 www.thecapital.com.au
Canberra
Tilley’s Divine Café
Saturday 9 May-Sunday 10 May
$51.00 Tickets
Box Office 02 6247 7753 www.tilleys.com.au , www.canberraticketing.com.au , 02 6275 2700
** Please note no shadow artists to perform at this venue
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