Bon Iver / Hammersmith Apollo / 24 October 2011

I'm pretty excited at the moment. My immediate future has some milestone events in store. These, plus some plain good planning, sees some exceptionally good times in the pipeline and one of the first has lived more than pleasurably up to expectations. Bon Iver last night at the Hammersmith Apollo, a venue that already holds some nostalgic sentiment for me, could have done no wrong really, but having had the luck to have seen them previously (twice) when they played Glastonbury in 2009 I can safely say they are only getting better.

Their 2011 European tour sees a stage-full of multi-instrumentalists, an eclectic group of men who are clearly just as passionate about this unique sound as frontman, and resolute face of Bon Iver, Justin Vernon. I have fallen in love with Festivals but I am still to claim myself a prolific gig-goer. Despite this there was something about the atmosphere of the Apollo last night that felt different to other live music events; in the halting pauses between lines of unintelligible words and oft inhumane sounds emitting from the mouth of Justin Vernon the crowd was silent, transfixed, appreciative, slightly swaying. I've never seen anything like it. This, for the first 6 songs at least until a crazed and hypnotic saxophone solo threaded into Blood Bank and a significant portion of the audience went mad, shortly followed by a loud, maniacal and highly satisfying Creature Fear.

After the lyrics of Re:Stacks came to an end, and the band continued Vernon produced a camera and started filming the audience. Then in a familiar tack, before launching into Wolves, he asks the audience to include themselves with the evenings performance and join him for the emotional repetition of "what might have been lost", which, as it had in the middle of a field in Somerset, grew to an impressive crescendo, making it my favourite song.

The pleasure of last nights performance was that it was that, a performance, and it is this that made it better, musically, than their sets of two years ago. More developed material hasn't lost any of the original emotion infused into it by a wounded man during a self-imposed year of isolation, but much loved songs were turned into multi-layered sequences with styles at times of a big Jazz band, reminiscent of 80's music, and at others what could easily be incidental score music.

If you weren't there, live youtube video's will not do it justice, this is something close.

opener, Perth

my favourite, Wolves

en core, Skinny Love

Loved Music Live

I am getting very excited about the impending Bon Iver gig I've had a ticket stuck to my wall for since May. I missed the initial rush and ended up with a sold on ticket for twice the price and I don't even mind. After watching them twice at Glastonbury 2010 I can't wait to hear material from their recent album live.

I've been youtubing unheard material just to reinforce my adoration of the voice and talent of the man behind the lyrics, Justin Vernon. I'm currently on hold to Orange waiting to rant about how I still can't open picture messages people send me and the faltering pop of the hold music only serves to heighten my appreciation of Bon Iver's songs.

In a rare occurrence it is near impossible to pick a song or video that I don't want to share. I've settled on the one below because it was the last one I listened to before decided to write this post. And quite frankly it's loveliness speaks for itself.

Bestival

Unfortunately Besitval had to compete with The Garden Festival this summer, but despite the weather courtesy of the tail end of hurricane Katia the Isle of Wight gave Croatia a pretty good run for its money with wigs, glitter, amaaaazing tunes, and disgraceful behaviour a plenty!

Going Back To My Roots

Three years after first hearing about this magical place of incessant sunshine, funky beats, and all round goodtimes a ticket was bought, flight purchased, and accommodation found for 2011's instalment of Croatia's The Garden Festival.

Situated on the tip of a peninsula, shaded amongst crowd-weathered pines is a rehabilitated 60's hotel, which was at one time a series of pools and sunbathing terraces and is now dotted with beds and cocktail bars. A Terrace 'stage' juts out towards the sea, it's wooden floorboards withstanding a constant pumping bass and the appreciative stomping of a 2000 strong clientèle over the course of a week. The main stage hosts live funk and disco bands from the afternoon until dj's step in to keep the mood strong throughout the night til the early hours when party moves inside the discotheque Barbarella's in order to keep the peace with the locals who live in the surrounding fishing village of Petrcane.

The intimate atmosphere cannot be praised enough as, in light of growing UK festivals, the friendly, live feel of outdoor, 3-7 day long music events is what makes them so special. I am nevertheless looking forward to returning with glee to Glastonbury come 2013, but this summer has convinced me that Croatia can have my 2012, my body, mind & soul. Take them tan them, infuse them with glorious music, relax them and send them home happy. Again.

Daddy Cool

One of those things happened to me this morning that really makes me smile. My dad recommended a band to me that I hadn't heard of. And they're good (and, incidentally, if I'd have been at Glastonbury I could've seen them live).

I'm not surprised he likes them though, their sound really is his proverbial cup of tea. Another reason I'd be proud to take him to Bestival with me in September. Although he'd have to leave the fluorescent pink polo shirt & lace up (but undone) boy-band boots at home. You can only be so cool on the inside to pull that off.



Little Dragon - Ritual Union (Live at Glastonbury 2011)