Sunday's concert at John Dee was the third visit to Norway in less than a year by David Eugene Edwards - this time with the solo project Woven Hand. And what a fantastic artist and a stage personality this fellow is! The pious preacher's son once again delivered a paralysing performance in front of his Norwegian parish.

Had it been up to me, Edwards could play in Oslo once a week without me growing tired of it. At the time being he is the only person in the world that can create such an ultra gloomy and ceremonial mood on stage. With him on stage are, like last time, Ordy Garrison on drums and Daniel McMahon on piano, mandolin, bass and guitars. New in the live crew is the bass player Shane Trost.

The clock is approaching eleven when things start to happen on stage. John Dee was surprisingly somewhat empty when we arrived at about half past ten, but it filled up fast as the concert's start got closer.

David Eugene Edwards is as always concentrating 300%, and conveys so much of his anger and desperation to his audience that you end up completely put out. The man seems possessed by various creepy spirits that won't leave his soul alone for a second.

A hurried and extremely tough version of "Arrowhead" comes early in the set, and the same with "Aeolian Harp" from "Blush Music". And then, beautiful songs as "Blue Pail Fever", "Cripplegate", "Wooden Brother", "White Bird" and "Story and Pictures" - all performed equally mad and manic by David Eugene Edwards. He is now also an extremely good guitar player, and the voice is indescribably tough. In the middle of the set we are served two 16 Horsepower-songs performed by Edwards alone on guitar. "Strawfoot" flows into "Wayfaring Stranger" - both taken from the bands ultimate work "Secret South".

Before the band leaves the stage after "The Good Hand", he feels like giving the audience a short extra song before the encore. Alone on stage with his banjo, he delivers a fantastic version of "Black Soul Choir", before he thanks the audience for showing up and behaving. By the way, it was an exemplary audience that spent Sunday evening at John Dee. This is music that demands silence and concentration from the audience, and not as much as a clearing of the throat could be heard in between the songs.

For the encore a desperate devilish good version of "Your Russia" is served, and then an hour and a half in company with the dark man of rock was over - for now. But I wouldn't be surprised if we see either Woven Hand or 16 Horsepower in Norway again by the end of the year. Fingers crossed!

Translation by Jørgen