My first show of 2025 was a special one indeed. Friday night at the Factory Theatre was a double banger that brought together two great American acts that I guess could be grouped in the Americana category. The lead act was Phosphorescent. This was the band's first visit in over ten years so it was so great to welcome them back again. The small tour of Australia is off the back of 2024's excellent album in Revelator. The band played several songs off that record and they went down a treat. But it was older tunes that went down the best. 'Terror in the Canyons (The Woundest Master) into 'The Quotidian Beasts' was an absolute treat. I loved the epically beautiful 'Wolves' and of course the masterpiece in 'Song for Zula' was beautiful indeed. In the encore Matthew Houck went solo for two songs and showed what a beautiful singer he is. He also seems to be a beautiful soul, connecting and thanking the audience on many occasions. Then the band, who were truly excellent joined him again for the rousing closer in 'Ride On/Right On'. Hopefully it won't take another decade for this excellent band to return to these shores.

The opening act was just as exceptional. It was none other than the great Will Sheff. Sheff is carving out a solo career but is better known as the lead singer of the great Okkervil River, a band very close to my heart. Sheff is a remarkable songwriter and he gave us eight beautiful songs, mainly those he wrote for the band. 'A Stone' was its incredible self of course, whilst a stripped back 'No Key, No Plan' was a sonic wonder. Sheff now has a shaggy beard and plays with a beaten up acoustic, but his music is just as beautiful as ever. Hopefully he will be back again soon too.

Set List
C’est La Vie No.2
Revelator 
Impossible House
Wide As Heaven
Terror in the Canyons (The Wounded Master)
The Quotidian Beasts
New Birth in New England 
There From Here
The World is Ending
Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough)
Wolves
Song for Zula

Endless (solo)
Joe Tex, These Taming Blues (solo)
Ride On/Right On