The gigstravaganza that I’m on at the moment continued on Friday with Iron and Wine. They were supported by the sublime Bon Iver, but due to problems beyond my control (and one bringing-ticket-with-me-related woe that was within my control) I missed all but the last few bars of his last song. It was, if you’re interested, the title track from the album For Emma, Forever Ago, and it was very good.

Partially because of this, I didn’t find Iron and Wine themselves hugely endearing. The songs had a habit of sprawling out into two or three song medleys which after a while did little other than to make one realise that most of Iron and Wine’s output sound remarkably similar. Especially towards the end it made the gig feel a little like Prog-Folk extravaganza and all felt a little self-indulgent.

That’s not to say that the music didn’t sound good though, and from time to time, for example during the title track of The Shepherd’s Dog, they really shined. However, all in all, the gig wasn’t mindblowing, and really I wish I’d seen Bon Iver more. If all goes according to plan, though, I might get my chance on Tuesday when he supports Jens Lekman.