Bon Iver on NPR Music Front Row

A few months ago, I wrote a tidbit about seeing Bon Iver live and said, "His reinterpretations of songs from albums are crazily complicated and stunning to hear live because some are such huge deviations from the originals. Others have slight changes that are memorable. He even reinterpreted his new songs!"

So if you haven't seen Bon Iver live, you now have probably the closest thing to it that you can possibly hear (because the sound quality of this live performance is phenomenal - BLAST it!):

I have been watching (and really, more just listening) this performance over and over and over again. I am so spellbound by the sounds and machinations of sounds that he manipulates and creates.

I hate throwing the word genius around, and I imagine Justin Vernon hates being called a genius more than anything, but this performance (which is VERY similar to what I go to see at The Fox) is something like a religious experience. Seeing something like this live invokes such passion and chills in me that I can only think of it as being genius.

Like I said, his interpretations of songs - like his country twanging "#29 Strafford APTS" or "Creature Fear" or one of my favorite Bon Iver songs EVER - "Beach Baby" (he didn't play Beach Baby at his show at The Fox, and I'm still devastated) - basically create new songs. 

I mean listen to #29 Strafford APTS from Bon Iver's recent album and then to this live version :

ALMOST nothing alike except for the lyrically gorgeous and irresistible hook:
A womb / An empty robe / Enough / You're rolling up / You're holding it / You're fabric now.

It was also great to hear him play "Heavenly Father," one of his one-off singles he wrote for the soundtrack to Wish I Was Here. He rocked it, but I have to say the acapella performance alongside (amazingly talented) The Staves takes the cake. Just a jaw dropping performance: 

The most memorable moment of the concert at The Fox - something that still gives me goosebumps thinking about - was "715 - Creeks." The band left the stage and Vernon stood alone with one bright light shining behind him, completely enveloping himself in darkness, a shadow of his own voice.

He manipulated and coaxed his vocals AND ONLY HIS VOCALS as the entire crowd stood completely silent, rapt in attention. You could barely hear a breath. No joke, I almost cried. it was that powerful.

A lot of people say that they don't get all the auto-tuning and particularly with a man like Justin Vernon's beautiful falsetto. But there's something fragile in the way he does it, hiding that beautiful voice behind something manufactured. You can hear his real voice bleeding through, trying to be heard. But it's mixed in a cacophony of tunes leaving the listener to wonder what emotions are behind it all. 

Let's also not forget to give Vernon's amazing band its fuckin' due. These guys rock. The horns, the drummers, the guitarists, and the backup vocals all play a huge role in this performance. 

Speaking of backup vocals, please give it up for Vernon's bandmate and friend of many years, Sean Carey who must be a brother to Vernon because Carey's voice is as angelic as Vernon's. Need proof? Check out another reinterpretation of theirs in this stunning live performance:

Whenever anyone doesn't seem to get all the fuss of live performances, please just point them to one of these videos.