Photo by: Rebecca Carter
Otherwise known as Smog,
Bill Callahan is prolific, to say
the least. Getting his start with homemade lo-fi tapes, he has released 12
albums to date. His most recent, Woke on
a Whaleheart, is the first under the singer/songwriter’s real name but it is
still in the unique tradition of Callahan’s brand of apathetic lyrical irony.
Saturday night’s performance kicked off the start of the Museum of Fine Arts’ indie concert series; the
pristine theater seemed to encourage the audience to be extra observant and
respectful, and Callahan’s deadpan delivery matched the atmosphere. Taking the
stage looking like a more dapper David Byrne, he opened with “River Guard,” and
continued with a powerful performance of “Sycamore.” Had the band dropped a pin
on the stage, you would have been able to hear it. The crowd hung on his word
play, which for the most part is nothing short of brilliant. The set included a
block of songs from A River Ain’t Too
Much to Love, arguably his most popular album, with favorites such as “Say
Valley Maker,” “Rock Bottom Riser,” “I Feel Like the Mother of the World,” “The
Well” and “Let Me See the Colts.” Also included was “Diamond Dancer” and “Cold Blooded Old Times,” which if you
could say Smog has a “hit,” would be it.
The crowd, and band, eventually loosened up and
Callahan joked with the audience about the brand of water Howard Stern drinks,
among other things, between songs that ranged from dark and beautiful to
tongue-in-cheek humor. He moved over to the piano to close the set with “Prince
Alone in the Studio,” another one of those genius Smog songs whose intensity
makes the subject matter all the more hilarious. Throughout the performance it
was hard to tell if Callahan was annoyed or amused, but he just wouldn’t be
Smog… or Bill Callahan if it were any easier to tell.
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