Ben Gibbard, Union Chapel, London

There seem to be high expectations placed on this gig; not only is Ben Gibbard here to showcase his debut solo album ‘Former Lives’, he’s also greeted by an audience member yelling “This is the greatest night of my life.” The gig-goer is greeted with the retort: “Now, what could I do to make this the worst night of your life?” It’s easy to see this cool-headed member of indie rock royalty is both flattered and amused by this outburst.

This candlelit church is the perfect setting for Gibbard, with the acoustic set seeing him switch between guitar and piano to create a spellbinding set. When sat at the latter, he apologises profusely to those sat stage-left, with the piano shielding him from view, leaving him looking at a “very shiny version” of his face. He waves his hand at us between songs, reassuring us that we have not been forgotten, as we’re treated to a whopping 26 songs over a 90-minute set. These are interspersed with his views on America, its healthcare system and the Catholic Church, which are less than complimentary, although old fans are already well aware of his upbringing and his disdain to what he calls the church’s ‘culture of fear’.

But tonight isn’t about political statements, it’s about the music. Gibbard describes his solo material as being about “three relationships” (presumably including that divorce), with his heartfelt, if occasionally sombre, numbers made even more moving by tonight’s setting. Death Cab fans are not disappointed, with ‘Title and Registration’, ‘Cath….’ And Sound of Settling’ played alongside a surprise Blur cover – ‘Sweet Song’ – and The Postal Service’s ‘Such Great Heights’.

This stripped back set is goosebump-inducing, although this minimal set-up provides little else for the audience to focus on, and there are times when the mind wanders off into a daydream. A little help from a backing band wouldn’t have gone amiss, although Gibbard’s musical beauty is being able to draw us in and absorb us in his world.