Patrick Wolf plays as an acoustic Bachelor

The evening was laid back and casual and Patrick cheerfully told us little anecdotes and stories behind his newer songs. Apparently, "Damaris" came about after a stroll through a cemetery where one tombstone simply said Damaris (like Madonna), and was told the sad tale of Damaris and the man she loved but could not have because she was not Catholic and so she died of heartbreak. Depressing stuff. But he happily covered Joni Mitchell's "Tin Angel" as it name-checks a nameless Bleecker street cafe, the cover melding seamlessly into the upbeat crowd favorite "The Magic Position" and sang Happy Birthday to his cousin who was in the audience before regaling us with a song about family and the Sussex Downs: "Blackdown," which, at one point, sounds like an Irish jig.

Displaying how multi-talented he is, Patrick played a grand piano (with a photo of John Lennon and Yoko Ono in front of him for inspiration), his violin and ukulele, as well as a new electric guitar and dulcimer (during new track "Theseus"). Despite forgetting his own tuning and inviting any stalkers in the crowd to help him out, the improvisation worked well and provided some comedy gold. Though nothing beats him asking us if he had camel toe while demurely tugging at his breeches-like, knee-length pants.

Reaching into his sizable back catalog, Patrick played "Pigeon Song" from his Lycanthropy days and "Wind in the Wires" from the album of the same name. For the encore, Patrick did have a small costume change, throwing on his new signature cape with giant shoulder-pads before starting in violently on "Vulture" at the piano. He finished the show on a sweet note with "The Sun is Always Out," leaving the stage with a gracious bow.

The Bachelor is released June 2nd on iTunes and August 11th in CD format. Catch Patrick's next show at one of the stops along his NYLON Summer Music Tour:

06/05: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
06/06: Vancouver, BC @ Richard's on Richards
06/08: San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
06/09: West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy
06/12: Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater06/14: Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
06/15: Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
06/17: Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
06/19: Buffalo, NY @ Tralf Music Hall
06/20: Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar
06/21: Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
06/23: New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
06/24: Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
06/26: Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
06/27: Atlanta, GA @ The Loft at Center Stage Atlanta
06/30: Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre
07/01: Austin, TX @ Antone's Nightclub

-- OLGA BAS

Previously > Cobra Starship knows how to work it