Live music review: John Prine, Cork Opera House

Some people are born to see deep value in adversity, and John Prine was born to turn that human triumph into poetry.

“I was supposed to have a five-piece band here tonight, but their flight is stuck in Paris, so you’ll only have myself and [lead guitarist] Jason Wilber here tonight, but that just means you’ll be better able to hear the words,” Prine tells a capacity Cork Opera House audience, adding that he and his wife had flown into Shannon early to enjoy a lazy day in Kenmare.

Earlier, standing in for the grounded support act, denim-clad Wilber wowed the audience with a set of his own stunning songs. At 9pm, he returned with Prine, both now dressed in formal suits.