Belated Bears

I am officially rubbish, for taking so long to get this review down. Won’t bore you with excuses as to why it’s so late.

For what it’s worth, I did go to see the lovely Grizzly Bear last Sunday at the Roundhouse. The bare stage was very rustic-looking with jam jars filled with fairy lights hanging from wooden posts that were staggered across the stage. These were cleverly transformed, glowing with varying intensity to suit the mood amid a sea of lime green and electric blue; orange and purple and lilac and yellow, depending on the songs.

The audience was choca-block with die-hard fans who cheered with recognition at a lot of the tracks, much to the delight of the band. There was a lot more reverb than I thought necessary though, meaning that the lyrics got lost and we couldn’t hear what was being said in between songs. Having said that, I’m used to listening to Veckatimest on my iPod and it always sounds so close and intimate, with the four-part harmonies and gentle, rolling side drum. Victoria Legrand from Beach House (who were supporting) came on stage to sing during Two Weeks which was as melancholy and moving as we’ve come to expect.

But it was the pared down All We Ask that the band did as an encore, with acoustic guitar and a couple of instruments, that won me over and sent me off happy into the night.

Next week, Heartofnoise will be joining you from New York. Any recommendations welcome.