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Gig Review

Bon Iver
Victoria Apollo, London

Article written by James S - Dec 8, 2008

Bon Iver live

Whilst doing some Christmas shopping in Fopp before this gig, I came across a book on the counter entitled ‘101 Ways To Get Over Your Ex-Girlfriend’ for a quid. I haven’t read it yet but I’m guessing that recording an album about your break-up and having it become massively popular isn’t in there.

It clearly works wonders though, as Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon can attest. At the start of the year he was playing in the snug surroundings of the Social but now, following the critical acclaim feted on ’For Emma, Forever Ago’, he’s ended up playing underneath a giant dragon to a huge packed-out theatre that normally hosts Wicked.

This grand setting is perfect for the performance that Vernon and his three-piece backing band have honed over the past 12 months, and the wonderful sound capabilities and lighting options serve to bolster the music yet further. From the moment the four-part harmonies hit you on the evening’s opener, Woods it’s clear we’re in for a special night.

The band switch instruments fluidly without changing position, providing some striking and unexpected backing to Vernon’s fabulous falsetto. Blood Bank features the best one-handed drumming since Def Leppard, before Vernon somehow manages to make his acoustic guitar and vocal soar effortlessly over a triptych of drums on a stunning rendition of Skinny Love.

Creature Fear is twisted magnificently into a ferocious elongated rock out, and then the group slide quietly into the wings to leave Vernon to perform a beguiling Re: Stacks alone. They reappear to close with The Wolves, replete with its glorious mass singalong, before the crowd are encouraged to let out the most visceral screams to exorcise our own demons of lost love.

It seems that there’s no point trying to top that but the rapturous ovation genuinely demands that they try. Thus the encore is an intriguing juxtaposition of “a happy song”, Babys, followed by a truly sublime duet with support Sarah Siskind on her heartbreaking Lovin’s For Fools. As over 2,000 people shuffle dumbstruck and delirious from the venue afterwards, there’s little doubt that we’ve just been treated to the gig of the year, hands down.

(For Esther, forever ago)

Links:
http://www.boniver.org
http://www.4ad.com
http://www.myspace.com/boniver