Tour de Force

Ray LaMontagne with David Ford. At the Lobero Theatre,
Saturday, November 11.

Reviewed by Brett Leigh Dicks

When it comes to musical projection,
Englishman David Ford is unrelenting. Be it in voice or
instrumentation, Ford literally throws everything he has into his
music. A song like “I Don’t Care What You Call Me” might start off
with resignation to romantic fate, but the tone of the song
casually builds into an affirmation of defiance. A harmonica wails
and Ford ardently belts out the same chorus that not so long ago
floated in fragile beauty.

While emotional containment propelled the former, it was
instrumental theatrics that conveyed the temper of “State of the
Nation.” A simple guitar line was recorded and looped. Another
guitar line was then added along with a dose of shakers. Sliding
from instrument to instrument, even a bang of his guitar became
entrenched within Ford’s evolving soundscape. It might well be an
extroverted musical display, but Ford perfectly tempers his
enthusiasm and never allows it to become overly indulgent.

Just as Ford gregariously bounded off
the Lobero stage, Ray LaMontagne timidly took to it. With the
lights dimmed, LaMontagne stilled any extraneous banter and allowed
his music to be his passage of communication. And while much of his
musical attitude is communicated through vocals ranging from a
gravelly rasp to a bellowing cry, his onstage presence between
songs lay in stark contrast. A song’s conclusion was often met with
a wipe of the brow, a genuine yet hesitant “thank you,” and a
nervous scratch of his head.

There is an implicit beauty within this contradiction and all
tentativeness disappears when LaMontagne is consumed by the music.
In songs like “Three More Days” he charges his way through an
R&B-infused shuffle and “Trouble” sees the singer/songwriter
bobbing at the microphone with eyes tightly closed as he cries out
the chorus. Despite his passionate servitude to the song’s
delivery, the delicateness of the creator echoes the brooding
temperament of his songs. Ray LaMontagne may well be shy and
reserved, but he unleashes a musical force with which to be
reckoned.