#27.04.2013

It’s always nice when a gig turns out to be even better than you had imagined – which certainly was the case for Villagers. Knowing that someone has a great voice from recordings is still not quite the same as experiencing it live! It was Villagers’ first gig in Luxembourg in an intimate venue and I got to be standing right at the front. Also, I met some very nice fellow fans, one of whom had flewn in from England and was seeing the band for the 16th time! Conor started the gig with a solo performance of Cecelia & Her Selfhood, a song I have to admit I didn’t know before, but which captured me from the first second on. Cormac then came on stage for the next two songs before the rest of the band joined them. The slower songs had me holding my breath whereas the more upbeat ones really rocked. The audience was very responsive as well and there was a huge applause after each song. What impressed me most, apart from Conor’s voice, is the fact that he’s not „only“ a singer, but a storysteller. Hearing those songs live and witness his expressive performance made me appreciate them so much more. Villagers are very high on my list of bands I absolutely need to see again and I really hope they’ll keep their promise of coming back to Luxembourg. I didn’t meet them (I gave up waiting at 1am), but I managed to get a setlist – which is always a nice souvenir and for me, the only way to remember which songs were played;) : 1. Cecelia & Her Selfhood 2. Nothing Arrived 3. Ship of Promises 4. My Lighthouse 5. Set the Tigers Free 6. Home 7. Greatful Song 8. Memoir 9. Passing a Message 10. The Bell 11. The Meaning of the Ritual 12. The Waves 13. Judgement Call 14. Earthly Pleasure Encore: 15. That Day 16. In a Newfound Land 17. Becoming a Jackal