So last Friday M and I hiked the 5 minutes from our house to hit up the forum to see Iron and Wine. Now we're both fans, although not huge fans, and were expecting a good show. What I wasn't expecting, was for Bon Iver (pronounced Bonne Hiver - for the fracophones) to be the opener. And what a support act they were.
But first the bad news. Iron and Wine were not worth the money. The albums are full of catchy Americana with a soulful voice, great lyrics, and some nice down home guitar playing. However what makes for a great album can make for a very poor show if there isn't any charisma involved. Iron and Wine is essentially a sessions band. The lead singer, whose name escapes me now, writes all the music and then hires session musicians to accompany him on the road. When done properly, a la Ben Lee, Eric Clapton, or numerous other 'solo' acts, it's great; but it requires that the 'solo' musician has charisma to carry the show. Iron and Wine seriously lacked this charisma, which meant the show was the equivalent of putting on an album in a room with 2000 other people in it. Not exactly the best performance.
Thankfully though Bon Iver stole the show as the support act. Along with Final Fantasy, which I saw at the same venue, this is one of the most beautiful performances I have ever seen. Three men, sitting, making music that almost made me weep. The harmonies, the shy remarks, the haunting falsetto, and the awesome guitar work, it really was truly incredible. I know that I've already pointed them out as a band to watch, but please please please go grab the album. It is so worth it. And if you can see them in person, I promise you won't be disappointed. You will feel that you are sitting on a porch in the middle of a Wisconsin forest with some of your best friends playing music that is just utter bliss.
Now where did I put my coonskin cap?
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