Fleet Foxes, Luluc @ TheTivoli, Brisbane (04/01/2009)

Tue 6th Jan, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Although at first glance they seem like a band of bearded axe-wielding lumberjacks, Sup Pop darlings Fleet Foxes completely blew The Tivoli away tonight with their sublime musical perfection. With their combination of celestial harmonies and earthy musical wanderings, there was no doubt that tonight was truly something special.

Melbourne duo Luluc provided the only support set for this evening. Heralding back to the folk days of yesteryear, Zoe Randall stood still on stage, gently finger picking her guitar while singing a collection of quietly heartfelt songs from debut, Dear Hamlyn, accompanied by the subtle vocal strains and fretwork of Steve Hassett. With a vocal quality reminiscent of Christine McVie from Fleetwood Mac, Luluc earned the respect of tonight’s crowd who were respectful and attentive to their gentle reflections.

Fleet Foxes seem to have sprung from complete obscurity in the past year to become a stock-favourite in many folk’s playlist. Whispers had come from down south that this band was something altogether different, yet that did no prepare us at all. Coming out quietly onstage, they started with the four-part, a capella, eponymous Sun Giant. As the last strains died out, the full band led by Robin Pecknold, kicked into Sun Rises.

Over the course of the following hour and a half, Fleet Foxes played cuts from their Ragged Wood album, Sun Giant EP as well as a couple of covers and newer songs. There was some impressive drum work, as he played with mallets, shakers, tambourines and sleigh bells in various combinations with the kit.

After wishing Casey Wescott a happy birthday, as it was his last day as a 27 year old, they executed crowd pleaser, White Winter Hymnal, with utter glorious perfection. Apparently, guitarist Skyler Skjelset leads a double life as a part time barista when he isn’t playing his electric guitar with a violin bow.

Your Protector was a personal highlight, as the song is like going on a breathtaking exploration into the uncharted territories of the wildwoods, complete with gun-sling and stirrups. For a few songs, the rest of the band left the stage and Robin played a new song that segued sweetly into a solo rendition of Oliver James.

If there’s one thing that Fleet Foxes do really well that most bands are appalling at, it’s the onstage small-talk and interactive banter. One example of this was Robin’s story about the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas that destroyed Christmas for him! It seemed all too fitting that his story was followed by Quiet Houses.

For their last song, Fleet Foxes pulled out Mykonos, which is mostly impressive because of its nearly grandiloquent a cappella finish that managed to land on the right side of the cheese river. Coming back onstage alone, Robin walked to the front with his guitar and waited patiently for the crowd to quieten, which they did. He then sang a song for us completely unmiked and truly acoustic before returning to his microphone for a eye-watering version of Tiger Mountain Peasant Song. The rest of the band then joined him for the grand finale of Blue Ridge Mountains.

I could rant at length about how much I utterly adore and admire Fleet Foxes and how they were a completely amazing live band and how I haven’t been this inspired by a show in a while. But rather than doing that, I will simply say that Fleet Foxes are amazing and if you don’t already have their records in your collection, do yourself a favour and buy them (don’t download because the artwork is worth the cash). You won’t regret it!