He played a taut set of polished songs with similar structures -- the song would start off brooding, floating along until a big, bright chorus hit in, or the band would just start rocking out.
Callahan's past fourty and has been writing and performing songs for twenty years, so I'll forgive him if his songs do not have much variety. He's evidently found his niche. It was a pleasant (if not life-altering or eye-opening) performance, and Callahan didn't overstay his welcome. Even when the crowd expected an encore, after only just about an hour set, the band did not return.
(Check out a recent review of another Callahan show on Pitchfork.)
