last night i had the pleasure of seeing first aid kit live.
guys. i'm totally in awe.
have you ever ever been to a concert, where the minute they started singing, you had goosebumps?
they walked out on stage, and sang in harmony. and i was done for.
let me back up.
the show was at the danforth music hall..... and though i'm vehemently opposed to anything on the east end of toronto, i'll admit it. i was wrong... the music hall is a hidden gem. a hall among halls. do you know how many amazing people play there??? apparently i didn't until last night.
i was supposed to see first aid kit last time they were in toronto (april 4th - at the great hall), but through a mix up with communicating that there would be tickets at the door, i missed out (though i DID get to hear a large portion of their sound check... which was perfect). and i was devestated.
so, for my birthday, i received tickets to their show. didn't even know they were coming back, to a hall i didn't know existed. thank you jeff.
(PREFACE: sorry for the exceptionally awful photo quality) (who wants to donate an iPhone to my blogging?)
first up was dylan leblanc - i'll admit it. i'm still battling a ravage cold, and was highly anticipating first aid kit. i wasn't a huge fan. i know. i know. horrible. but i'm sure his album is great - but as jeff and i both agreed, his live voice was a little less louisiana bluesy, and a little more kermit the frog, than i generally like.
alas. i got another drink, and waited. and the girls stepped out, in darkened lighting, and harmonized the shit out of their first song (sorry... forgot a set list. will update once someone posts one).
they were wonderful.... every note hit on the head... and they swayed through every single song with their flowy dresses, and proper swedish attitudes. i felt like i was in the 70's. and it felt good. their voices have so much depth... and what i wasn't expecting? the little bit of headbanger in both of them. it was an entire show we got.... when all we were expecting was good vocals, and 2 cutie pie chicks. their stage presence was beautiful and sweet - and they talked JUST enough. they sang some old and some new, and reminded us of their new album, and played a sample of what we can look forward to. that, to me, is the perfect mix of music....
i also need to say: the drummer who was with them (excuse me for not knowing what his name is) was incredible. his timing was perfect, and he played in the background so wonderfully for these 2 strong voices. he managed an entire percussion section in the background, without anyone ever noticing he was changing between bass drum, and block.
when they came out, sans microphones, and sang with the crowd, i was in heaven. these girls can play like everyone. they sang with the strength of veterans, over the noise of the crowd, without their mics, and played along with themselves.
they were asked recently to play for paul simon, when he received his polar music prize. that's all that needs to be said about the amount of respect these two ladies have gained worldwide. they sang the song that they played for him - america - and had we not known better, you would have thought they wrote it. their arrangement was perfect. paul simon must have been in wonder.
i'll leave it at that - short and sweet. there are few words that can describe the exprience that is these 2 woman's voices live..... so if you have a chance to see them, please do. and, overall, if you've never spent time with this band before, i would have said it before, but i'm even more committed to saying it now: check them out.
and my all time favourite... emmy lou:
have you ever ever been to a concert, where the minute they started singing, you had goosebumps?
they walked out on stage, and sang in harmony. and i was done for.
let me back up.
the show was at the danforth music hall..... and though i'm vehemently opposed to anything on the east end of toronto, i'll admit it. i was wrong... the music hall is a hidden gem. a hall among halls. do you know how many amazing people play there??? apparently i didn't until last night.
i was supposed to see first aid kit last time they were in toronto (april 4th - at the great hall), but through a mix up with communicating that there would be tickets at the door, i missed out (though i DID get to hear a large portion of their sound check... which was perfect). and i was devestated.
so, for my birthday, i received tickets to their show. didn't even know they were coming back, to a hall i didn't know existed. thank you jeff.
(PREFACE: sorry for the exceptionally awful photo quality) (who wants to donate an iPhone to my blogging?)
alas. i got another drink, and waited. and the girls stepped out, in darkened lighting, and harmonized the shit out of their first song (sorry... forgot a set list. will update once someone posts one).
i also need to say: the drummer who was with them (excuse me for not knowing what his name is) was incredible. his timing was perfect, and he played in the background so wonderfully for these 2 strong voices. he managed an entire percussion section in the background, without anyone ever noticing he was changing between bass drum, and block.
they were asked recently to play for paul simon, when he received his polar music prize. that's all that needs to be said about the amount of respect these two ladies have gained worldwide. they sang the song that they played for him - america - and had we not known better, you would have thought they wrote it. their arrangement was perfect. paul simon must have been in wonder.
their website of fun // get some merch here (i'm looking at that tote, because i'm SO in love with their logo - i was dying for it last night) // listen to some more of their music here // follow them on twitter (and maybe learn some swedish!) here
and.... 2 of my favourite songs by them..... their new video for wolf: