The following is one review where no amount of hyperbole will do true justice to the overwhelming feeling that comes from experiencing a live event such as this. Tonight, Grizzly Bear brought Sydney to its emotional knees in an evening of beautiful intensity that is so rarely found live – especially in a unique setting such as the City Recital Hall. This is what live music is all about – a feeling you can’t shake off for days, a song stuck in your head that you never want to leave; a truly unforgettable evening that you wish you could stick in a bottle and store away for safe keeping and experience again and again. And sure enough, it has been brought to us by the fine folks at Sydney Festival.
The City Recital Hall in Angel Place is one of Sydney’s hidden treasures, a venue which gets too little appreciation from the mainstream music types the rest of the year – but not that we mind, it’s what makes Sydney Festival all the more a special time of year. The only problem with the venue, however, is its decision to make the majority of the venue general admission – something which wasn’t the case back in 2008, when I last visited the theatre to see The National with Clogs (another spellbinding experience!). As such, there’s quite a scramble to get that good seat – but I suppose such only adds to the anticipation, as you line up well in advance of the band’s 90 minute performance, conversing with your neighbour.
And anticipate I did. This was a concert I’d been looking forward to from the day it was announced, and I was literally beaming with excitement by the time I reached the queue. And to say the show which followed didn’t disappoint is an understatement – it overwhelmed in musical splendour. Hey… just because I said no amount of hyperbole would do true justice to the gig didn’t mean I wasn’t going to dish it out...
Unlike the majority in the room I’m sure, I had the pleasure of seeing the then up-and-coming Grizzly Bear in 2006 in Vancouver, supporting TV on the Radio in the beautiful Commodore Ballroom, promoting their 2nd LP Yellow House. The Brooklyn-based four piece truly blew me away that evening, and I’ve been a fan ever since. So I certainly knew they could dish it out in the live setting, but what they offered tonight was something extra special indeed.
I’m really struggling to provide any particular highlights, however, as
there were not a moment in which the show lulled – they pulled all the
punches, showing off a highly refined show and a tighter band than I
could ever remember. No doubt three years and a rise to popularity in the interim makes a difference. Meanwhile, Chris Taylor’s ability to jump between
the flute, the clarinet, the bass, and a saxophone of some nature and
some funky vocal effects was truly astounding. I can’t fail to mention the great light show that accompanied it all, too – as much a visual as an audio experience at times!
I have to say that by the time the concert had come around, I had grown tired of last year’s breakthrough LP Veckatimest – it got a little too much play when I first started listening to it, and I’d never quite given it the same appreciation since. Indeed, as the below setlist shows, the focus of the show was indeed the new album, and in doing so, I was reminded just how amazing this album is. In fact, I haven’t stopped listening to it since. Hmmm… so, apparently I don’t learn from my mistakes. The remainder of the set was balanced between Horn of Plenty, Yellow House and the surprise inclusion of “Deep Blue Sea”, their breathtaking effort on the Dark Was the Night compilation. And all the more breathtaking live.
If I had to pick out one moment of the show to put in the spotlight, it would have to be the encore of “All We Ask”, which they performed acoustically, and for the first time in Australia. Edward Droste commented on the special nature of the venue as the reason they decided to give it a whirl – again thanking Sydney Festival for allowing them to play (yes, thank you!). From the minute Edward broke into the opening lyrics, standing away from the mic – his voice almost bouncing off the walls without amplification – there was nothing else to say or feel but just, wow.
And I think that’s all I have left to say about this band.
Just, wow.
Sydneysiders do whatever you can to get a ticket to the remaining performances (Tix for Nix!!).
This is an event not to be missed.
Setlist:
Southern Point
Cheerleader
Lullabye
Service Bell
Knife
Fine For Now
Two Weeks
Colorado
Deep Blue Sea
Ready, Able
I Live With You
Foreground
While You Wait For The Others
On a Neck, On a Spit
Encore:
All We Ask (Acoustic)
