FLEET FOXES - LIVE REVIEW
American indie-folk band Fleet Foxes has been touring across North America and Europe since last June with the newest release of their 2021 album titled Shore. Although the group consisting of Robin Pecknold, Skyler Skjelset, Casey Wescott, Christian Wargo, and Morgan Henderson (plus accompanying musicians) has been on the road for an entire year now, they are still planning to be touring until the end of this coming August after adding a second leg of US dates. This time around, they are joined by musician and friend Uwade Akhere who is also featured on the band’s song Wading In Waist High Water. Last night at 20 Monroe Live, they played yet another fantastic show for their West Michigan fanbase.
Opening with Sun Giant, a song from their very first E.P. of the same title, the band mesmerized the entire crowd with the short yet enchanting piece despite the lack of any formal introduction. The second song on their setlist was none other than Wading In Waist-High Water in which they welcomed Uwade Akhere back to the stage before the song melted into its following track; Sunblind. The entire setlist itself was a whopping 24 songs consisting of newer pieces like Can I Believe You and older hits such as the esteemed White Winter Hymnal, a lengthy set for a worthy band.
A sliver of their performance that stuck out specifically was Ragged Wood. A song from their 2008 self titled album, Ragged Wood is an upbeat and snug piece that the audience fell in love with. With the AV work of intricate art being projected and orange lighting to the uplifted energy of the band members themselves, Ragged Wood had everyone moving and belting until their throats hurt. Although folk concerts get the reputation of being slow and boring, this show was nothing but lively and Ragged Wood alone proved that.
Frontman Robin Pecknold appeared to be soft spoken and composed for the duration of Wednesday night’s performance; contrary to many of the frontmen we see today in live music. His stage aura perfectly encapsulates the vibe that is Fleet Foxes; warm, inviting, and comfortable. Pecknold was humbly grateful for every audience member, thanking the crowd so much that many members in the pit section began to play drinking games around it, buying a shot every time the kind singer said “thank you” to the sea of people before him. Despite the joking, all of the concert attendees felt very welcomed by Pecknold and his constant appreciativeness.
After last night’s show, the band has gigs in varying cities such as St. Louis, New Haven, Asheville, Orlando, and several others as well as sets at Bonnaroo, Winnipeg Folk, Ottawa Blues, Halifax Jazz, and THING Festival.
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