REVIEW: BON IVER AT BRISTOL COLSTON HALL (11/11/11)
11/11/11 posed a dilemma for many a Bristol gig goer by pitting the critically acclaimed Bon Iver at the Colston Hall against the much-hyped newcomer St Vincent at the Fleece. For most, however, the choice was made for them as Bon Iver reportedly sold out within half an hour. The Colston Hall was abuzz with anticipation for this gig, with queues stretching all the way round the foyer but the place remained pretty empty until gone 9pm when Justin Vernon and co were getting ready to take to the stage. Unbeknown to those latecomers, they were missing the undeniable talents of Canadian songstress Kathleen Edwards.
Like Beth Orton, Edwards has one of the sweetest, most soothing butter-wouldn’t-melt voices partnered with the most down-to-earth yet risque sense of humour. As she told her tales of getting pissed and waking up naked, you couldn’t help but be charmed by Ms Edwards. And then came her songs, her beautiful, country-tinged ballads which draw comparison with Suzanne Vega. Change the Sheets and Sidecar, from her most recent album Voyager, were delightful classic sounding numbers; but it was Goodnight California which sealed the deal, where Edwards took to the violin to play a mesmerising solo. And when you thought things couldn’t get any better some of the Bon Iver boys joined her for an awesome cover of Neil Young’s From Hank To Hendrix, during which she struggled to contain her emotions, quivering some of the lyrics.
This was the last date of Bon Iver’s European tour and Edwards urged us to carry the band through with warm welcomes and receptive cheers, a plea which did not fall on deaf ears. The band took to the stage to a rapturous applause from the whole auditorium and launched straight into the emotional Americana they shot to fame with. You’d struggle to sum up a ‘typical’ Bon Iver fan but they inhabit that cavern between Guardian reader and hipster. Perhaps BBC 6 Music listener would do it justice.
Bon Iver’s set was, in theory, perfectly suited to the Colston Hall (and had it not been for one overzealous, rude, loud, inconsiderate, little Hitler of a steward the theory would’ve been realised in practice). The grandeur of the surroundings matched the grandeur of the music perfectly and as each member of the nine-piece band stepped into the spotlight (literally), Justin crouched down on his rug (seriously) and waited patiently for the slow burning music to warrant his heartbreaking vocal interjections. Highlights (noisy bouncer aside) included the epic Flume, Blood Bank with it’s soaring contrabass sax solo and Beach Baby with a tear-jerking Yann Tiersen-esque violin solo. Then there was Creature Fear, which employed the use of strobe lights and harnessed every member of the band’s energy to create an ethereal crescendo – like a beautiful whale call.
Justin then called Kathleen Edwards back on stage, commending one of her earlier albums as a massive influence on his life and inviting her to join him for a cover of Lazy Eye, the bonus track from her 2008 album Asking For Flowers. Bon Iver went on to play their Brothers In Arms, Beth/Rest which had much more of a considered prog rock vibe about it than the majority of their indie folk ballads. Think Runrig meets Fleet Foxes, if you can bear to.
Of course, no Bon Iver gig would be complete without a rousing rendition of Skinny Love – which was brought to life with some syncronised clapping from the rest of the band. It’s remarkable how symmetrical such a motley bunch of musicians can appear, Justin in the middle with an enviable metal guitar and a falsetto voice to die for, flanked by six excellent musicians who each look like they could front a different genre of band from pop to grunge and soul to indie. Then there was the two drummers, raised on stilts at the back of the stage and holding the set together with the most impeccable timing.
The main set ended with one of those ‘I was there’ moments, a mass singalong to The Wolves (Act I & II) – which started fairly modestly: “what might’ve been lost” before growing into this massive beast with the potential to literally raise the roof. Awe-inspiring stuff and testament to the sheer power of the music of Bon Iver. This is bound to make the top 10 gig of the year lists for a lot of Bristolians, myself included.
Words and photos: Laura Williams
