On a hot and balmy August night an audience doesn’t want to be blown away by distorted screeching guitars and screaming vocals. So Bill Callahan, the artist formerly known as Smog, was a perfect fit in the sweltering confines of St George’s Church.

His beautifully rich baritone filled the space, dripping into the ears like honey, while his backing band created a muddy but tight foundation with some heart-stopping swells to lift the seated crowd.

Unusually for an artist with a new record to plug, Bill left most songs from Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle for the end of the set, largely dipping into his back catalogue.

The night opened with Our Anniversary, perfectly setting the scene as Bill played a constantly repeating riff over a slow, shuffling backing, occasionally marching on the spot in time with the music.

A cellist and violin player provided the strings that fill his latest record, augmenting older songs such as Cold Blooded Old Times, best known from the High Fidelity soundtrack, as well as the new album highlights, including the brilliant Eid Ma Clack Shaw and main set closer All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast.

The heat was clearly getting to the band early on, with requests to turn down the stage lights, but it didn’t stop them playing a full 90 minutes, with only time for a quick encore of early favourite Bathysphere before curfew.