BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY
ST JAMES HALL, KITSILANO
11/11/06

Christian Martius

In the St James Hall the wooden pews are hard enough to remind anyone that they are sentient, mortal and maybe have a boney ass, but in these church-like confines and with such a service delivered by Mr. Will Oldham in one of his many guises, concerns of seating are secondary. It’s the last of a 3 night stint and the venue is packed so all are thankful to have a place in front of the stage, whatever uncomfortable position they find themselves in.
The performance that follows is one of sublime full band wig out, complete with vocal, instrumental and conversational interplay between various band members. Bonnie Prince Billy himself flips and flops on stage while holding his guitar in what looks like a very uncomfortable position, his soulful fragile vowels interjecting grace and focus to what seems to be a man either in the grip of religious fervor or vicious constipation. Veins spiral up the forehead and teeth clench in expressions that are wholly incongruous to what is heard. The picture he gives is not the same as the sound.
It seems to be no accident that his latest album is called, Letting Go and let go the band do as Will Oldham leads his companions into a territory of eloquence and charm that stretches far beyond the reaches of the pseudo emotive expressions of the bourgeois indie ballad. This is for real. These tender moments even manage to shut up the ever present audience members who have nothing to say in the loudest of shouts; the small and meaningful wins out over the big and ignorant under these rafters. This sweet voice delivers paeans to God, love and the bittersweet experience of life and in the church of Bonnie Prince Billy there is enough in a song to split the heart wide open, no matter what you say or where you sit.