30/01/08 : The huddled masses have entered through the double wooden doors of the church at Passionskirche, filling in hurriedly out of the rain. Some stop to gaze at the altar with wide-eyed reverence, which is tonight adorned with all kinds of musical instruments. Tonight Iron and Wine will be preaching to the devoted. In the great, red brick Passionskirche, every seat is filled. There are so many devotees that many had to stand or sit on the ground and the wooden, straight-backed pews have no place left. From the balcony, one can see that the entire floor level is nearly full. A hush is on the crowd, lights fade from the massive, starry, stained glass chandelier as Iron and Wine take the stage.
iron and wine/passionskirche/photo: julie shipley
Sam Beam, the driving force and main voice of Iron and Wine, looks as if he was directly imported from 1973. His hair and beard are long and shaggy, like a cult leader or your dad’s best hippy friend, he is the perfect image of calm and assuring on stage with no pomp or pretense. This is not an exciting circus of a show, and is not meant to be. He is there, plainly dressed, to play his music and not let anything get in the way of that. And the music is mesmerizing. There could be no better setting than a church for the beautiful and soulful folk sound that is Iron and Wine. Their music depicts honest, simple images of life made vibrant and vivid enough to touch, and has the ability to place memories in your mind that you didn’t know you had; the corner store in the evening, the sun slowly setting below pine-laden hills, your first summer love, red deserts, grey breaking skies and deep green oceans. Cinematic movement made audible, this is music that can be felt, as deeply as ones own triumphs and tragedies. Iron and Wine can name the things we feel without reason, and we love them for it.
Tonight’s sermon consists mostly of newer tracks from the most recent release ‘The Shepherd’s Dog’(2007) but also differed compositions of older material, such as a slower, full band performance of ‘Cinder and Smoke’ from 2004’s ‘Our Endless Numbered Days’. By the end, the crowd wait eagerly for a second encore. Nobody wants to leave, but they must. The church seems to heave a sigh as the people slowly shuffle out, speaking in many languages but all feeling a unity that only music or religion can beget. Sometimes both.
Iron and Wine is:
Chad Taylor [Sea & Cake], Benny Massarella [Califone], Matt Lux [Isotope 217], Leroy Bach [formerly of Wilco], Paul Niehaus [Calexico], Patty McKinney, Sarah Beam, Sam Beam
Iron and Wine/The Shepherd's Dog - Sub Pop/Cargo.
