An intimate evening with Bon Iver
Indie- folk band treats fans to a relaxed, multi- instrumental set at Deer Lake Park
BON IVER
When: May 25 Where: Deer Lake Park
A flawless May evening was the backdrop as indie- folk act Bon Iver played Deer Lake Park Amphitheater on Friday.
A gentle breeze played with ragged gunny sack curtains draped above a stage set with wrought- iron candelabras topped in blue glass. It was the end of one of those days that makes you want to write florid sentences about our city’s natural beauty.
Could Bon Iver possibly stand up to their surroundings?
The band appeared with the sunset carrying a wide array of brass instruments and guitars. They slid into a massive nine- man rendition of Perth that rambled jazz- like into their second song. The crowd was instantly on their side.
The heart of Bon Iver, frontman Justin Vernon, is known for constructing complex recorded harmonies. But that work translated as a little thin with the band’s original four- person lineup. Now, he travels with a rotating group of multi- instrumental indie music mainstays — as well as his original crew, Michael Noyce, Sean Carey and Matthew Mccaughan.
The onstage effect was powerful, giving the band’s intimate songbook a sweeping quality. The large brass section recalled the fullness of Calexico, while Vernon’s forays into falsetto had echoes of Antony and the Johnsons — whose violin player, Rob Moose, has joined the Bon Iver crew.
Throughout the evening, Vernon was a relaxed and good- natured presence, often expressing surprise at the size of the crowd.
“So damn many of you,” he marvelled between songs. “You gotta understand that I’m happy that you’re there, but I’m more thankful.”
The set finished off with a hint of synth- pop before the sun had fully set. Their encore was a surprise treat in the form of Bjork cover they dedicated to Vancouver band Black Mountain.
Shows like this leave you with high hopes for the coming festival season.