Caught Live: John Grant @ Whelans, Dublin

Having released one of the finest albums of the year so far, great things are now expected from former Czars frontman John Grant, and tonight before an almost-full Whelans he delivers a confident, assured performance. While on record Grant is backed by his good friends Midlake, out on the road it’s touring musician Casey Chandler who provides able assistance, the two alternating between keyboards and guitar throughout tonight’s set. Opening proceedings with a new song, ‘You Don't Have To’, that voice, that incredible voice immediately fills up the venue, seizing the attention of everyone present. The song itself is no great departure from Queen Of Denmark – all gentle piano and introspective lyrics – but, considering the size of tonight’s crowd, it’s a relief to see that there are virtually no ‘talkers’ in attendance; everyone is here to witness Grant's triumphant return.

One of Grant's great talents as a songwriter is an ability to imbue his lyrics with a cutting sense of humour, and the second song aired tonight is a perfect example of this. Stripped-back in the live setting, ‘Sigourney Weaver’ is played at a much slower tempo than on the album, and this works wonderfully to allow the initially daft-sounding lyrics to take on different meanings. ‘Where Dreams Go to Die’ soon follows and is another obvious standout, sounding as it does like the kind of song Rufus Wainwright still wishes he could write. Grant's voice really does deserve another mention: surely one of the most affecting instruments in music today, the intimate surroundings and lack of a full band tonight enable it to make Whelans its own.

Before finishing up, Grant shows us he’s not afraid to delve into his well-documented troubled past, rounding things off with a couple of old Czars songs. ‘Drug’, from that band’s incredible 2001 The Ugly People Vs. The Beautiful People LP, is particularly demon-filled, detailing Grant's long battles with medication and their effects on his personal relationships. His final effort, though, is an a capella reading of Queen Of Denmark’s ‘Chicken Bones’ that has the crowd singing along to every sardonic word.

As he leaves the stage to a rapturous reception, Grant assures us he’ll be back in town to play support to Midlake in a couple of months’ time. On this evidence, there's every chance he might just upstage his old pals.