Watson's Experiments (Hillside '09)

Patrick Watson is creating some of this country's finest music, and he is doing so with a variety of experimental techniques (such as using a bicycle as an instrument on the latest album). It was intriguing to watch as Patrick, along with his fully capable bandmates, recreated gems from his recorded albums live before our eyes. Wooden Arms, as well as set-opener, Fireweed, began with the bowing of a cymbal while Patrick added vocals through a handheld effect pedal. Tracy's Waters saw.. the drummer holding the drumstick like a pencil and squeaking it along the top of that very cymbal whilst Patrick tickled the ivory, and the guitarist swapped out for a banjo, while the bassist continued with his 8-string. Carrying on with the same tracklisting as the Polaris Prize short-listed Wooden Arms, the opening of Beijing featured the banging of pots and pans which matched up well to the recorded version, while later they strayed from the album sound by including an extended drum solo. They then hit skip (figuratively) to get to Big Bird in a Small Cage, a personal favourite. A lovely Swedish female vocalist (Erica?) was introduced to sing her part of the duet as they sang a lovely rendition over xylophone and banjo. After her departure there was an interesting take on Traveling Salesman where Patrick employed a megaphone to alter his voice, and a plunger on the end of it to further play with the sound. The dirty electric guitar breakdown was awesome too but unfortunately cut short as they were nearing the end of the set and needed to fit in a couple more. Man Like You had the skilled percussionist playing the strings of a guitar with tiny metal tines which sounded nifty, and Patrick again played with his already great vocals by beginning lines standing back and yelling to the mic before rushing right up close to it. To the delight of many the only Close to Paradise cut to be included was Luscious Life as the finale, once again employing the effects pedal for the vocals.

I was thoroughly impressed with the way that the albums were translated into a live show by using a variety of unique elements. I was further impressed by Patrick Watson pulling this off after having a few drinks - if his ordering of a whiskey into the microphone is any indication (not to mention his excuse of being wasted for why he accidentally pulled out one of his own patch cords). He never claimed to be angelic - in fact in response to an audience adulation suggesting as much Patrick professed that he was anything but! Angel or not, there's no denying that he is a musical god.