Fleet Foxes, Grand Salvo @ TheTivoli, Brisbane (10/01/12)

Tue 17th Jan, 2012 in Gig Reviews

Brisbane’s Tivoli theatre tonight is no escape from the heat outside, which does little to help Melbourne folk legend Grand Salvo draw this evening’s sold out crowd in. His softly spoken performance is rewarded with some affection, but unfortunately it’s not enough to garner much enthusiasm.

Helplessness Blues, the latest offering of warm, symphonic folk from American six piece Fleet Foxes, sounds as if it was recorded not in a studio buried underneath cables, amplifiers and producers, but in the middle of a vast, scenic forest as luscious and delicate as the record itself. Their breathtaking performance tonight takes its audience to this same place, and so into the very heart of the album that topped all but a few best of 2011 lists.

That’s not to say that the show doesn’t elevate the sounds of Helplessness Blues. It’s clear from the moment opening track The Plains/Bitter Dancer swells from forlorn acoustic melody into a flute interlude and saxophone featured finale that tonight the band will propel their gentle sound into something much richer. Every song tonight is played with such flair and affection that the audience feels Fleet Foxes’ devout commitment to their music. Piano, violin, fiddle, cello, mandolin, even a pair of maracas and a tambourine are all made to sound as gentle and as striking as possible, and always as one.

Mykonos makes an early appearance, completely unnecessary to lure the crowd in, given lesser known songs like the brooding Your Protector and the guitar swirling Sim Sala Bim already have them buzzing and humming along. The Shrine/An Argument brings the room to a chilling silence during its’ first few minutes, and the sublime acoustic ballad Oliver James is given greater depth by singer songwriter Robin Pecknold’s biting delivery.

Montezuma, a highlight from Helplessness Blues, is incomparable live to its’ studio counterpart. To hear each component of the song come together live, from the perfectly executed harmonies that echo off of each other to the delicate guitars helps to illustrate the growth Fleet Foxes have experienced since their 2008 self-titled release. Pecknold’s song writing in particular has become much more distinct, veering away from the elusiveness of their debut into deeper parts of his psyche, a place clearly overwhelmed with the concept of growing older. It’s obviously relatable subject matter for tonight’s audience, who greet his every word with wide eyed adoration.

The ever growing momentum provided by the band reaches its’ peak during the enchanting existentialist single Helplessness Blues, with Pecknold breaking away from the wall of sound his band mates have crafted to belt out lyrics “what good is it to sing helplessness blues, why should I wait for anyone else?” It’s the first and only time that he truly steals the spotlight, but only one of many times tonight the audiences is left paralysed by this band’s joyously spellbinding sound. The bright light show and video projector do little to detract from how organic Fleet Foxes’ show feels; a refreshing reminder of how powerful music can be when allowed to be consumed as naturally as it is crafted.