Laziness has taken over me these past few days and I promise you're gonna hear - or rather read - soon about our first Bridge School Benefit experience in San Francisco.
Last week has really been intense musically-speaking! And it is kind of hard to keep you updated with all these amazing shows happening at the same time.
Whatever. Now I want to praise the talent of Sufjan Stevens, whom I just saw two nights ago at the Paramount and who amazed and moved me.
Ok, I know, I tend to be super enthusiastic each time I'm making a music review on the blog, but believe me, I've also seen some really bad shows here and I think it is more relevant for you to read something positive, eventually making you want to (re)discover the artists I'm talking about.
Ok, I know, I tend to be super enthusiastic each time I'm making a music review on the blog, but believe me, I've also seen some really bad shows here and I think it is more relevant for you to read something positive, eventually making you want to (re)discover the artists I'm talking about.
The soldout-show I saw two days ago was part of Sufjan Stevens' tour for his eleventh album (yes 11th, you read well), The Age of Adz, released last month on Asthmatic Kitty Records.
The record is a lot different from what Stevens has done lately. It is much more electronic and less folky. In a way, he is going back to his earlier works, in particular his second record Enjoy Your Rabbit released in 2001. Even being aware of that before the show, I've been really surprised by what I saw that night.
The record is a lot different from what Stevens has done lately. It is much more electronic and less folky. In a way, he is going back to his earlier works, in particular his second record Enjoy Your Rabbit released in 2001. Even being aware of that before the show, I've been really surprised by what I saw that night.
On stage, Stevens is accompanied by a crew of ten musicians and dancers.
Musically-speaking, the two-hours show was very good: it really got me into it.
Musically-speaking, the two-hours show was very good: it really got me into it.
The show was divided into two parts: the first one was dedicated to Stevens' new work- he almost played his whole new album- while the second one was more acoustic. He indeed played some old songs such as Chicago or The Dress Looks Nice On You.
Visually-speaking the whole show was crazy and it totally reflected Stevens' overflowing imagination. Behind the band was a big screen on which psychedelic and space-related drawings and pictures were projected. During some songs, an invisible screen would unroll between the audience and the band and other drawings would be projected on it, giving the impression that the band was confined in a buble. Also, at some point, a diamond-shaped spaceship came down on stage reinforcing the idea that Sufjan Stevens might indeed be from another planet as he would let us understand during the show...
On top of that, the whole band was dressed up in fluorescent colours for Halloween, which was even more entertaining for the eyes.
Althought the show was the exact opposite of what I was expecting (that is to say a melancholic-depressive folk show - I like those shows), I can easily assert that Sufjan Stevens' performance - he really is a good musician and dancer - was among the best shows I've seen so far in Seattle.
As always, if you have the opportunity, I truly advise you to go and see this man.
If not, at least check his new album out, I doubt you'll be disappointed.
As always, if you have the opportunity, I truly advise you to go and see this man.
If not, at least check his new album out, I doubt you'll be disappointed.
A.C.
