Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

In many ways it was going to be very hard for this to fail. For a start one of the band is celebrating his birthday (22 allegedly, he looks nearer 16, seriously those toddlers General Fiasco could beat him up), and then it's revealed that main man Justin Vernon used to live in Galway, and frequent fast-food joints in the city, and has spent forever looking forward to this (and annoying his band-mates with stories about the place).

What turns the gig into an epic win though, is the way that the live material, through dint of touring and work, is so much more than on the album. For a start there are two drum kits on stage, sometimes being used simultaneously. It's bigger, it soars and swoops as emotions are heightened. 'Flume' is huge, well capable of filling the venue, and 'Skinny Love', featuring the addition of a third bit of drumming, like just about everything else, is a sing-along. The traditional Galwegian rain is even referenced, being blamed for messing up the guitar tuning. Μύ

A couple of new tracks are introduced, the first, 'Babies' is "about making them, not that they're delivered by a stork" and ends with discordant piano, while 'Bloodbank' is sign that they may not be just one album. Closing with album title track 'For Emma' they leave to rapturous applause and cheers, before returning for a short encore, "because we don't have any more material", Μύwith an epic rendition of 'The Wolves', the crowd belting closing line "what might have been lost" repeatedly, before the band leave, with just about the most genuine smiles on their faces that I've seen. They say they won't forget this one, you might just believe them.

William Johnston