The last time I saw Fleet Foxes live was at 2nd (and the last) All Points West. I’ll never forget it starting to rain just as they kicked into a sweeping rendition of “Ragged Wood.” It was unforgettable.
Flash forward to tonight, and the weather wasn’t much better. It has been raining hard all week, putting a damper on things. However, Fleet Foxes magical performance at the elegant United Palace Theater brought an atmosphere that was very much the opposite. They warmed us up with as incredible of a performance as you can ask for.
New York City is a tough crowd to please. There were complainers in the crowd shouting at the band to “turn down the bass.” The band never took it to heart. Drummer Joshua Tillman offered humorous banter right back at us. Don’t know who was complaining because during the middle of the set, the entire crowd gave the band a well deserved standing ovation. Coming from a New York crowd, that’s impressive. Quite frankly, the band deserved one after every song. They were that good.
The set was as balanced as they come. The band played nearly all of Helplessness Blues, also mixing in plenty of older material that we can already assume to be classics. “Mykonos” sounded as classy as music can be, warming up my insides with ease.
The band knows how to work a crowd. They gave us a streak of familiar classics from their self titled album, giving it all at once. You can’t really argue with this line: “Your Protector,” “Tiger Mountain Pleasant Song,” “White Winter Hymnal,” and “Ragged Wood.” They know a thing or two about momentum.
When it comes down to it, it’s hard to imagine a world where people don’t like Fleet Foxes. Their songs have a timeless, essential warmness to them that no other band can replicate. Their live performance will awe you and dazzle you. They’re also some of the nicest guys working in the music industry today. I lost count of how many times Robin thanked us. It’s refreshing to see a band treat you as their equal.
Every song was sharp as can be, with clean vocals and instrumentation on all fronts. Only hours ago I was in the pouring rain. Fleet Foxes transported me to a much warmer place for nearly two hours, and I loved every second of it.
After a less than shy fan told Robin to remove his hat so we could see his hair, Robin shyly obliged, honestly admitting, “I just want to please you people,” with a smile. Rest assured, Fleet Foxes pleased everyone in attendance last night. I already consider Fleet Foxes to be one of the better bands around right now. Tonight sealed the deal.
Cave Singers opened, and were fantastic as well. Really dirty southern guitar jams. I’d love to see them again.
Photos, setlist, and a video I shot of “Helplessness Blues”, all after the jump:
2. Grown Ocean
3. Drops In The River
4. Battery Kinzie
5. Bedouin Dress
6. Sim Sala Bim
7. Mykonos
8. Your Protector
9. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
10. White Winter Hymnal
11. Ragged Wood
12. Lorelai
13. Montezuma
14. He Doesn’t Know Why
15. The Shrine / An Argument
16. Blue Spotted Tail
17. Blue Ridge Mountains
Encore:
18. Oliver James
19. Helplessness Blues
Helplessness Blues:
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