Bon Iver @ Sydney Opera House
BON IVER
@ The Sydney Opera House
12th March 2012
In 2008, Canadian singer/songwriter Justin Vernon arrived on the scene under the moniker of Bon Iver, amidst a spate of folk singer/songwriters. He was distinguished by his eclectic musical stylings and beautiful high vocals which came to define his sound. Three short years later, he would be picked up for guest vocals by Kanye West and see a sudden surge to popularity eventually resulting in a Grammy win for Best Newcomer on the back of 2011 release Bon Iver, Bon Iver.
I'd long been a fan of the preceding album For Emma, Forever Ago but came to truly love Bon Iver's music after first hearing Perth, the latest album's opener, written about the death of Heath Ledger. It is a majestic, crashing wave of a song with wondrous progression and laden with the indicators of Justin's profound musical craftsmanship.
There was no doubt as the lights dimmed in an overly smoky concert hall in Sydney's Opera House that Perth would be the opening tune. A great deal of effort had gone into setting the mood for such a song – the band filed out with serious faces on for the task at hand, and thick hessian sheets hung from the ceiling as tattered curtains. What we didn't know on seeing them initially was that they would provide backdrops for spectacular projections and shafts of light that cut through the haze like knives.
And then it happened. With the first single, thrumming guitar note, I was transported to a level I hadn't emotionally prepared myself for, and I stayed in this state of shocked wonder for the entire night.
There is no doubt in my mind that I witnessed something truly special. Justin's consummate performance was perfectly matched by a world class band of masters, including a superb horn section and electronics that elevated each song high above Bon Iver's "neo-folk" contemporaries. The set list was perfectly crafted, too, with the pre-encore lineup ending on synth anthem Beth/Rest and the more crowd pleasing title track from For Emma. I will never forget the sound of the audience, following Justin's instructions to the letter, gently building the repeated refrain of The Wolves to a howling, echoing conclusion that left me speechless.
The album is brilliant, but the live performance added layer upon layer to each and every note. It came as a particular surprise to hear and feel the volume of the concert - some unexpected, down-the-line rock riffage made it near impossible to stay seated in a room packed entirely with chairs. In fact, as the musicians bowed, the chairs were empty: every audience member, captivated, stood and roared their approval.
There can't have been a single dry eye in the house as the band respectfully slid into the shadows, leaving Justin and his guitar to croon the haunting Re: Stacks. "This song kinda saved my life," he prefaced. It certainly brought something to mine.
I'd long been a fan of the preceding album For Emma, Forever Ago but came to truly love Bon Iver's music after first hearing Perth, the latest album's opener, written about the death of Heath Ledger. It is a majestic, crashing wave of a song with wondrous progression and laden with the indicators of Justin's profound musical craftsmanship.
There was no doubt as the lights dimmed in an overly smoky concert hall in Sydney's Opera House that Perth would be the opening tune. A great deal of effort had gone into setting the mood for such a song – the band filed out with serious faces on for the task at hand, and thick hessian sheets hung from the ceiling as tattered curtains. What we didn't know on seeing them initially was that they would provide backdrops for spectacular projections and shafts of light that cut through the haze like knives.
And then it happened. With the first single, thrumming guitar note, I was transported to a level I hadn't emotionally prepared myself for, and I stayed in this state of shocked wonder for the entire night.
There is no doubt in my mind that I witnessed something truly special. Justin's consummate performance was perfectly matched by a world class band of masters, including a superb horn section and electronics that elevated each song high above Bon Iver's "neo-folk" contemporaries. The set list was perfectly crafted, too, with the pre-encore lineup ending on synth anthem Beth/Rest and the more crowd pleasing title track from For Emma. I will never forget the sound of the audience, following Justin's instructions to the letter, gently building the repeated refrain of The Wolves to a howling, echoing conclusion that left me speechless.
The album is brilliant, but the live performance added layer upon layer to each and every note. It came as a particular surprise to hear and feel the volume of the concert - some unexpected, down-the-line rock riffage made it near impossible to stay seated in a room packed entirely with chairs. In fact, as the musicians bowed, the chairs were empty: every audience member, captivated, stood and roared their approval.
There can't have been a single dry eye in the house as the band respectfully slid into the shadows, leaving Justin and his guitar to croon the haunting Re: Stacks. "This song kinda saved my life," he prefaced. It certainly brought something to mine.
*Photo sourced from the Daily Telegraph.*
Comments
Post a Comment