Shannon and Narducy - R.E.M. - Vicar Street

Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy performing R.E.M. - Vicar Street 

Words: Corey Grange

What could easily have been a vanity project has quickly become a yearly pilgrimage (pardon the pun): Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy performing R.E.M. in Vicar Street. Shannon is best known as a serious character actor and an intimidating one, at that. Narducy has performed with everybody, from Bob Mould to Superchunk, so he has chops to beat the band. This pairing, along with Dag Juhlin, John Stirratt, Vijay Tellis-Nayak and Jon Wurster, have created the greatest R.E.M. tribute band of all time. I really mean that, as a huge fan of the original band.

Having caught, and loved, their show last year in which they performed Fables of the Reconstruction from beginning to end, along with another full set of obscure R.E.M. tracks, I knew I had to catch their Life's Rich Pageant show. They knocked it out of the park. Bobcat Goldthwait was the unlikely support act (yes, Zed from Police Academy), and he smashed it too. Making jokes about Trump, the Special Olympics and even throwing in a Bono impression for good measure, he got the audience on his side in an unlikely fashion. Michael Shannon is the most unassuming frontman ever. He bounced around the stage in his ¾ length shorts and Converse, singing just like Stipe and doing every song justice.

'Fall on Me' and 'Cuyahoga' were standouts on the album set. Bonus points for performing 'Country Feedback', my favourite R.E.M. song of all time (and tagging 'So. Central Rain' at the end, while the audience sang "I need this". Emotional doesn't even cut it). Narducy sings like an angel too, nailing the harmonies and guitar tones. Said they'd be back next year for Document. Who has two thumbs and will be there? This guy.