Iron and Wine at Hawaii Theatre, Honolulu, Hawaii – March 17
On St. Patrick’s Day, the streets of Chinatown in Honolulu were alive with a festive chaos, green shirts, plastic shamrocks, and the carefree celebration that grows louder as the night goes on. Just a few blocks away, however, inside the elegant walls of the Hawaii Theatre, a very different kind of gathering was taking place. The audience assembled for Iron & Wine found themselves immersed in a quiet, reflective world crafted by singer-songwriter Sam Beam, a stark contrast to the revelry outside.
The Honolulu show came at the tail end of an international run that had taken Beam through Australia and New Zealand before arriving in Hawaii. The tour supports the latest chapter in Iron & Wine, Hen’s Teeth, a companion to the 2024 release Light Verse. Beam didn’t bring the full Iron & Wine ensemble to Honolulu, no backing band this time, but his solo acoustic set created a more intimate, personal experience for the audience.
The show itself drew from across Iron & Wine’s career while weaving in selections connected to the more recent material. The 18 song, 90 minute set opened with the upbeat “In Your Ocean,” and “Sweet Talk.” Beam then introduced “Grace Notes,” the first of five selections from his latest release, taking a moment to explain what a grace note is and how it related to the theme of the song. “Grace Note” stands out as one of my favorites from the new album, thanks to the orchestral texture Iron & Wine brings to it. Stripped down to a solo performance, its full beauty was laid bare. The audience was appreciative, remaining quiet and a bit subdued, entranced by the experience. The theatre setting felt far more inviting than their last visit to Hawaii in 2018, which took place in a standing room only club.
Musically, the set moved fluidly between eras. “Upward Over The Mountain” and “Naked As We Came” drew appreciative murmurs from longtime fans. The crowd grew especially attentive during a stripped-down “Jesus The Mexican Boy,” Beam’s voice carried effortlessly through the quiet theater, rising and filling the room. There was no rush, no sense of obligation, just a musician enjoying the chance to let songs breathe. While the order shifted from previous shows, the performance included: “All In Good Time,” “Cutting It Close,” “Dates and Dead People,” “Naked As We Came,” and “Grace For Saints and Ramblers.” For the encore, Beam returned with the emotionally reflective “The Trapeze Swinger,” a fitting closer to a performance defined by quiet contemplation and warmth.
Outside, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations were still in full swing, laughter spilling from bars and the occasional cheer echoing down the street. In a way, that contrast perfectly captured the essence of the evening. While much of the city embraced the noisy exuberance of the holiday, Iron & Wine offered something entirely different, a moment of calm, introspection, and quiet beauty. And on a night defined by celebration, that gentler kind of magic felt just as powerful.
Find more tour dates and info here on his website: https://ironandwine.com
Setlist:
In Your Ocean, Sweet Talk, Grace Notes, Carousel, Jesus The Mexican Boy, Upward Over The Mountain, Call It Dreaming, Singing Saw, All In Good Time, On Your Wings, Cutting It Close, Resurrection Fern, Dates and Dead People, Grace For Saints and Ramblers, Autumn Town Leaves, Naked As We Come, Half Measures (E) The Trapeze Singer