M. Ward: Rockwood Music Hall 2016

M. Ward brought his sublime band (which included a killer rhythm section of former R.E.M. touring member Scott McCaughey and Mike Coykendall) to Rockwood Music Hall for a wonderful, memorable show. Some FUV members are describing it as one of the best they’ve attended. The set mostly featured songs from Ward's brand new, eighth album More Rain — a topic that this Portland, Oregon, artist knows plenty about.

Ward also impressed the crowd with some old favorites, mostly from the decade-old album, Post War: “Poison Cup," “Magic Trick," and “Rollercoaster." The set also included a surprise: a little, custom-tailored WFUV jingle.

The clincher was a cover of John Fahey’s “Bean Vine Blues #2,” a song that M. Ward covered for a Fahey tribute album called I Am The Resurrection (which Ward also co-produced). There are few guitarists that could do Fahey justice, but Ward blew everyone away with this set closer.

There is no question after watching and hearing M. Ward perform live that night that he is more on top of his game than ever before.

[recorded: 5/5/16]