A review of the Fleet Foxes gig that took place at Audio Brighton on June 9th 2008, written by our photographer Rob Noble.
who are Fleet Foxes?
One of the most talked about acts of this year’s South by Southwest, Fleet Foxes are a Seattle five-piece whose debut album – belatedly released in the UK on the day of this gig – has won gushing reviews from almost every quarter. The Guardian called the self-titled disc “a landmark in American music, an instant classic”, and it looks set to make Metacritic’s top fifteen of the year. Still, I hadn’t heard any of their tunes before turning up, and the comparisons were so diverse I didn’t know quite what to expect.
the music
Most often likened to Fairport Convention, Crosby, Stills, & Nash and the like, owing nothing to the sound that made their home town famous when the band were at school. Song titles like “Blue Ridge Mountains” and “White Winter Hymnal” are about right for music that evokes a rural idyll far from the Starbucks city. The band’s chief claim to fame rests on their vocal harmonies, led by 22 year old songwriter Robin Pecknold, who as a teen was obsessed with Brian Wilson. A varying selection of guitars and keyboards creates an intricate, atmospheric sound.
The harmonies were lovely, but as someone new to this band I was impressed not overwhelmed. And those with more musical knowledge than myself detected clear similarities to various contemporaries – most notably My Morning Jacket.
3/5
banter and stage presence
The band seemed relaxed and happy to have such an appreciative audience. When they spoke it was usually to joke about the rapturous cheering of the crowd. Jesus-lookalike Pecknold is the star of the show, and was captivating in his solo performance of the melancholic “Oliver James”. So it seemed at bit odd that he spent most of the show kneeling at the front of the low stage, out of sight of all but the first couple of rows.
3/5
the audience
This was an over-16s event, and at twenty-seven I was rather flattered to have my ID checked at the door. But it seems that melodic folk-rock doesn’t really cut it with the kids, as my age can’t have been too far from the average. Many in the crowd must have downloaded the album pre-release; they knew the songs and were ardent fans. Applause was enthusiastic throughout.
4/5
the venue and sound
Audio – an intimate, subterranean venue – is a favourite of mine, the only drawback being the low stage, which restricts viewing for all but the nearest and tallest. The sound tonight for Fleet Foxes was excellent (though sadly the same can’t be said for co-headliners Beach House).
4/5
overall
An enjoyable gig by an interesting band, though perhaps not as unusual as I’d been led to expect. I suspect more familiarity with the music is needed to appreciate its subtleties, and I may still get the album (if only for the Brueghel artwork, which illustrates such wise proverbs as “don’t be a chicken feeler”). I can see these harmonious Seattleites winning a large fan base over coming months.
3.5/5
more Fleet Foxes
The band’s MySpace has a few songs to listen to plus listings for their multi-country tour, which goes on till September.
I fed chicken to a chicken once. I can assure you poultry-based caniballism is both disturbing and erotic.
Paul
June 11th, 2008