At the recently reopened UC Theatre, M. Ward digs into his dreamy folk-pop

M. Ward with NAF //
The UC Theatre – Berkeley, CA
July 8th, 2016 //

Known for his excellent work with Monsters of Folk (Jim James, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis) and Zooey Deschanel as one half of She & Him, M. Ward brought his dreamy style of folk-pop to the recently reopened UC Theatre in Berkeley last Friday night while on tour in support of his latest studio release More Rain.

Support was provided by Jenny Lewis’ newest project NAF (Nice As Fuck), a supergroup of sorts featuring Au Revoir Simone’s Erika Forster and The Like’s Tennessee Thomas. The trio performed its entire set in relative darkness in the middle of the main floor while surrounded by the audience.

Concertgoers were repeatedly asked to keep their cellphones in their pocket and be in the moment at the request of the artists, and thankfully the plea did not fall on deaf ears in the packed house, which made for a welcome respite from the usual sea of cell phone screens seen at shows nowadays. Luckily though, Showbams was on hand to document M. Ward’s memorable headlining performance.