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Jesse Malin is often overlooked in comparison to some of his contemporaries- especially the likes of his long time friend, collaborator and producer Ryan Adams. His soulful mix of alt country (in the vein of Adams et al) and old fashioned, hard working rock �n' roll (ala Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen - a guest on Malin's current album �Glitter in the Gutter' ) together with a hint of his Replacements-like punk rock roots makes this hard enough to fathom. A show like Saturday night's makes it downright criminal.

Pitch perfect and completely on form throughout, Malin's energy and enthusiasm were infectious from the beginning. He played an astonishingly long set list (at least 25 songs including two covers - Harry Nilsson's �Everybody's Talkin'' and an acoustic version of The Hold Steady's �You Can Make Him Like You'), almost needing to be dragged off the stage by the end.

Playing a variety of songs from all three albums, satisfying old and new fans alike, he seemed truly at home and at ease on the Spring & Airbrake stage - and thoroughly enjoying himself with it. A captivating performer, Malin's passion and positive mental attitude bestow his songs with an even more powerful and dynamic significance and expression than their recorded counterpoints. Thus he made Saturday not only a very special night, but proof if ever it were needed that no musical recording, no matter how kick-ass your stereo, can ever beat the thrill and spirit of a live performance.

He had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand (actually, more like drinking, what with the tequila he was sharing with the front few rows) with his genuine pleasure to be there, chatting with everyone as if we were all old buddies, enthralling us with stories behind the songs, anecdotes of his previous visits to Belfast and other dates on the tour and poking fun at the security fences at the front (�what, did they think we were the Chili Peppers or something?�).

And if anyone in the audience still wasn't convinced, he got off the stage for a little wander amongst the crowd to have everyone sit down for a haunting and enchanting sing-song rendition of �Solitaire'. Well, everyone except for one of Belfast's obligatory middle-aged, drunk gig-goers who never seems to know where he is, why he's there or what the deuce is going on - and even this Malin took in his stride, letting the dude get on with his thing with good grace and humour. Not even the regrettable Belfast crowds' habit of constant chattering seemed to dampen the man's spirits.

Maybe it was just the result of Malin and the band having the following day off, but it's rare to get to experience a gig like this, where the crowd and the performer seem to be enjoying the night and each other with equal verve, vigour and affection. It's just as rare to see a performer so truly appreciative of and good to his fans - as if two encores and an almost two hour set wasn't enough, Malin then retired to the front of Spring & Airbrake, hopped up on the bar to sign everything and anything a fan could get in his eye line, still chatting away as if he was just any ole regular Joe hanging at a bar on a Saturday night. Ìý

If his joyously un-diva-like, hard working, and ultimately happy attitude (so unusual in a rock star of his extraordinary calibre) is the result of staying under the radar and out of the spotlight he so richly deserves, then I'm inclined to want to keep him our little secret. So shush, don't tell anybody, and you too can swig from his tequila bottle next time he's in town.

Orla Graham