Bon Iver transforms albums to compliment rock show setting
During Bon Iver’s “Hinnom, TX,” white spotlights shine down on each band member; then suddenly, all but one disappear. The only noise heard throughout the Uptown is the violin. No one is talking and no pictures are being taken—it’s a calm, serene moment that’s rare at big shows. Vernon and the rest of Bon Iver find a way to connect with the audience and make them feel as if they’re playing directly to you.
People from all walks of life flocked to the Bon Iver show. High school girls in mini-skirts to middle-aged, flannel-wearing hipsters sipping cheap wine were sprinkled throughout the crowd. The man in front of me kindly made sure he wasn’t blocking my view. Standing at 5’2”, a short girl like me greatly appreciated the small gesture.
Those who came to the Bon Iver show expecting to hear Justin Vernon’s quiet voice and hushed tones were in for a surprise. The crowd of 2,300, packed inside the majestic Uptown Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. on Sept. 9, stood entranced by the bellowing volume rising from Vernon and his three band members.
I was skeptical as to how Bon Iver’s quiet albums could be translated onto the big stage, but they made it happen by taking advantage of the saxophone, chimes, violin, drums, bass, guitar, and keyboard. Using these instruments gives Bon Iver’s sound something you don’t get through a pair of headphones.
Vernon’s falsetto is mesmerizing. He reaches octaves not many male artists can undertake. “Skinny Love” was greeted with a thunderous crowd reaction. A golden hue shone down on Vernon sitting on a stool strumming his guitar, accompanied by rhythmic claps, stomps, and vocals from the rest of Bon Iver. It was the perfect sing-a-long; the only thing missing was a campfire.
At the start of “Wolves (Part I and II),” the previously semi-quiet crowd joined Bon Iver in song, and Uptown Theater became filled with repeated chants of “What Might Have Been Lost.” Over and over, louder and louder voices shouted until the sound exploded and fans burst into applause.
Just as quietly as they began, Bon Iver left the stage without a trace. Fans lingered inside the Uptown, kicking leftover cups, sipping the last of their beers, and looking longingly at the stage, hoping for some sort of miraculous encore.
Although there was no encore, fans jumped in their cars to head home to the sounds of “For Emma, Forever Ago.”
SET LIST
- “Perth”
- “Minnesota, WI”
- “Towers”
- “Brackett, WI”
- “Blood Bank”
- “Holocene”
- “Flume”
- “Hinnom, TX”
- “Creature Fear”
- “Re: Stacks”
- “Calgary”
- “Beth/Rest”
- “For Emma”
- “Skinny Love”
- “Who Is It?” (Bjork cover)
- “The Wolves (Act I and II)”
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