Pitchfork

Photos by Sanchez and Kitahara

Because his records are so unadorned, because he is largely disinterested in flourish, because I suspect there is a strong streak of perfectionism running through his every gesture, there's really very little separating a live performance by José González (like the one I caught at Chicago's Engine Studios yesterday afternoon as part of a live radio session for KEXP) and his records. That said, the serene beauty you've heard etched into wax is preserved in concert, as is that nagging feeling that you wish he wasn't so goshdarned straightfaced about it.



Not that José isn't lovely, as a person, singer, and guitarist. That voice, those plucked strings, that gentle hush seems to emit from the core of Mr. Gonzélez, and he (rather admirably, considering) batted KEXP DJ John Richards' overager softballs right back with a genial shrug. His songs seem more delicate on first blush than they truly are, and "How Low" and "Fold", however indebted to Nick Drake, could never be as sweet coming from anyone else.



But whether it was the air conditioning or the forced friendship from Richards or José's gossamer voice and the soft strings of his guitar, I felt a bit sleepy. No complaint: I suspect perhaps this is the idea. These are political songs, some of 'em, and love songs otherwise, and both those things, when done just right, oughta ooze passion. José's passion, I suspect, is closer to perfectionism, and though I'm sure it made for fine radio-- as it makes for fine records-- it wasn't a sight to behold.



Setlist:

Down the Line
How Low
Fold
Abram
Killing for Love

Hear it HERE.









Dates:

10-05 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater !
10-07 Seattle, WA - Showbox !
10-08 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
10-09 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
10-10 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
10-12 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre *
10-13 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Café *
10-17 Cambridge, England - Cambridge Junction *
10-18 Bristol, England - Anson Rooms *
10-19 Warwick, England - Arts Centre
10-20 Brighton, England - Concorde 2 *
10-21 Nottingham, England - Rock City *
10-22 Leeds, England - Leeds City Varieties *
10-23 London, England - Union Chapel *
10-24 London, England - Union Chapel *
10-25 Manchester, England - Royal Northern College of Music *
10-26 Dublin, Ireland - Irish Museum of Modern Art
10-27 Belfast, Northern Ireland - Mandela Hall
10-28 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
11-12 Berlin, Germany - Kino Babylon %
11-13 Hamburg, Germany - Knust %
11-14 Munich, Germany - Atomic Cafe %
11-15 Milan, Italy - Garage %
11-16 Fribourg, Switzerland - Fri-Son %
11-17 Paris, France - La Maroquinerie %
11-18 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique %
11-19 Cologne, Germany - Gloria Kino %
11-20 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso %
11-21 Madrid, Spain - Moby Dick %
11-22 Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 3 %
11-24 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
11-27 Hollywood, CA - The Music Box at the Fonda #
11-29 Austin, TX - The Parish
12-01 Louisville, KY - 930 Listening Room
12-02 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge
12-03 Bloomington, IN - Buskirk-Chumley Theatre
12-06 Ottawa, Ontario - Zaphod Beeblebrox
12-07 Toronto, Ontario - Mod Club
12-29 Sydney, Australia - Enmore Theatre
12-30 Lorne, Victoria & Marion Bay, Australia - Falls Festival
12-31 Lorne, Victoria & Marion Bay, Australia - Falls Festival
01-02 Melbourne, Australia - Forum Theatre
01-03 Brisbane, Australia - The Tivoli
01-05 Busselton, Australia - Southbound Festival
01-08 Auckland, New Zealand - Bruce Mason Centre
01-09 Wellington, New Zealand - The Opera House
01-10 Christchurch, New Zealand - James Hay Theatre

* with James Blackshaw
! with Tiny Vipers
% with Mike Wexler
# with Cass McCombs