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Poster
Setlist
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Bon Iver is a Grammy award-winning American indie folk band founded in 2007 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. The band also includes Michael Noyce, Sean Carey, Colin Stetson and Matthew McCaughan amongst others. .…
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Eating crayfish, drinking aquavit, and an evening of music outside on a balmy weekend night…mmm, summer in the Twin Cities.
Local restaurant The Bachelor Farmer hosted its second annual ‘Kräftskiva’ block party – a Swedish word roughly translated as crayfish party- on a breezy but perfect night at the end of a cordoned-off downtown block, to a full and happy crowd, many adorned in provided yellow party hats.
After sets by locals Joey Ryan & The Inks and The Cloak Ox, the not-so-well-kept-secret headliner was revealed the morning-of-the-show: The Shouting Matches consisting of Justin Vernon (Bon Iver- vocals/guitar), Phil Cook (Megafaun- bass/organ) and Brian Moen (Peter Wolf Crier- drums), who played a crunchy, purposely imprecise hour-long set on the heels of their headlining gig at First Avenue on Friday night..
Although formed in nearby Eau Claire, WI in 2006, the band has mostly remained dormant in its 7-year existence, playing only a few shows including this year’s Coachella and a three-date MN/WI short tour. The band’s sound is the ‘anti-Bon Iver’ with Vernon abandoning the falsetto that is the signature of that band, for a growling baritone set to a minimalist blues/roots bar band sound.
The music and the band’s approach is unassuming, even though its vocalist won the 2012 New Artist Grammy, and the songs allowed each of the band members to stretch comfortably out into extended instrumentals and layered jams within the overall context.
Opening with ‘Avery Hill’, then immediately into ‘Heaven Knows’, a heavy track featuring Cook on harmonica, the threesome wasted no time in showcasing the tracks from its recently released album Grownass Man (Middle West Records). One of the early highlights was ‘Gallup, NM’ with a Vernon extended guitar break tinged with Cook’s organ dabbling. A cover of recently-deceased JJ Cale’s ‘Crazy Mama’ followed, even more confirming their blues-rock bar band sound, and something that would not be out of place on an early Black Keys album.
Lighting was minimal as the band started at dusk, but as night fell, was only framed by a few lamps positioned on stage. The crowd was typical for an outdoor festival – half-drunk, boisterous, and socializing; so not a surprise, but unfortunate that more didn’t pay attention to what came off as a relaxed band- not sounding at all like their previous groups, and just enjoying the art of simply playing together for the fun of it.
Local restaurant The Bachelor Farmer hosted its second annual ‘Kräftskiva’ block party – a Swedish word roughly translated as crayfish party- on a breezy but perfect night at the end of a cordoned-off downtown block, to a full and happy crowd, many adorned in provided yellow party hats.
After sets by locals Joey Ryan & The Inks and The Cloak Ox, the not-so-well-kept-secret headliner was revealed the morning-of-the-show: The Shouting Matches consisting of Justin Vernon (Bon Iver- vocals/guitar), Phil Cook (Megafaun- bass/organ) and Brian Moen (Peter Wolf Crier- drums), who played a crunchy, purposely imprecise hour-long set on the heels of their headlining gig at First Avenue on Friday night..
Although formed in nearby Eau Claire, WI in 2006, the band has mostly remained dormant in its 7-year existence, playing only a few shows including this year’s Coachella and a three-date MN/WI short tour. The band’s sound is the ‘anti-Bon Iver’ with Vernon abandoning the falsetto that is the signature of that band, for a growling baritone set to a minimalist blues/roots bar band sound.
The music and the band’s approach is unassuming, even though its vocalist won the 2012 New Artist Grammy, and the songs allowed each of the band members to stretch comfortably out into extended instrumentals and layered jams within the overall context.
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photo of setlist
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Lighting was minimal as the band started at dusk, but as night fell, was only framed by a few lamps positioned on stage. The crowd was typical for an outdoor festival – half-drunk, boisterous, and socializing; so not a surprise, but unfortunate that more didn’t pay attention to what came off as a relaxed band- not sounding at all like their previous groups, and just enjoying the art of simply playing together for the fun of it.
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The Shouting Matches at Kräftskiva, Minneapolis (08/03/13) |
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