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Story and photos by Matt Schwenke
Sparsely lit and peering out from under the shadow of a baseball cap, M. Ward's
performance seemed to be headed toward a sedate evening similar to his last stop
at the Pabst in 2006, just after releasing Post War. And a good chunk of the set
list this time through would follow suit as Ward hasn't released another solo
album since, but after a host of collaborations and projects between tour stops,
a new M. may be emerging.
While "Chinese Translation," "Poison Cup," "Requiem," and "Rollercoaster," all
from Post War, featured some refined guitar work and received well-deserved
applause, it was M. Ward's delivery of older material that particularly stood
out. With his band joining him and a host of fans dancing and standing in the
pit in front of the stage (it was a sit down show last time), M. Ward eventually
tossed his cap aside and delivered impassioned takes on "Vincent O'Brien," from
Transfiguration of Vincent (2003), "Flaming Heart," from End of Amnesia (2001),
and "Big Boat," from Transistor Radio (2005), in which M. pounded away on the
piano.
Remaining intense but much quieter behind the keys, Ward began his take on
Daniel Johnston's "Story of an Artist" so softly he was distracted by a fan's
untimely applause and stopped mid-lyric to let the verse come back around again
before delivering the whimsical, self-reflecting tale in its entirety (Ward
covered Johnston's "To Go Home" last time). Known mostly as a soft-spoken
singer/songwriter, M. Ward and company turned it up another notch late in the
night with the rocking "Regeneration," so much so it seemed another band had
taken the stage.
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