There is no better homecoming than the amber glow of a concert stage, framing the faces of dear friends you’ve missed all summer. Luckily Fall was just the season for musical reunions. The week of the Autumnal Equinox brought me into the cozy coastal sound of Fleet Foxes at Monterey’s historic Golden State Theater. Back in San Francisco, I was dazzled by the soulful acoustic set of Shannon Lay and rockin’ blues sound of Kevin Morby. Finally, in October, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival brought Indian summer heat to Golden Gate Park as well as the new smokin’ duet of Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile. Reviews of these shows and a new music playlist after the jump. Cheers!

Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes, a popular indie folk band from Seattle, delighted fans in 2017 by releasing their first album in six years, Crack-Up.  This was the second release since former bandmate Josh Tillman had left the band in 2008 to start Father John Misty (a popular indie folk band with a similar orchestral indie soundscape).  But despite Father John Misty’s dominance of airwaves and festival stages over that past six years, many would argue that Fleet Foxes still carries the torch in this genre of indie folk, and after this amazing live show, I’d have to agree. Critical acclaim for the Fleet Foxes’s work highlights their multi-instrument weave of intricate vocal harmonies. Their earnest lyrical songs have been described as a “…pastoral brand of baroque pop.” I have loved Fleet Foxes since attending college in the angsty Pacific Northwest. After such a long hiatus I worried that I would never get the chance to see them live. So when their Monterey show went on sale (the only “Bay Area” set of their 2017 tour) I leaped at the chance to rekindle my adolescence emotional attachment to the band. The experience of reveling in their full-throated sounded, as it filled the Art-Deco themed Golden State Theater in Monterey, was pure delight.

 

Kevin Morby

Just five days after the Fleet Foxes show I had the pleasure of seeing Kevin Morby, a new artist who has captivated me through catchy melodies and political lyrics since 2016.  Kevin Morby’s solo project is an outgrowth of his bassist work with formidable indie folk band Woods (who did a great show at the Chapel last year!). After leaving Woods in 2013 Kevin Morby began writing and recording for his own band and gaining national acclaim. This year Morby released his fourth solo album,  City Music, an ode to his former hometown of New York City.  The show I caught at Great American Music Hall was the last night of his summer showcase and record release tour. As the capstone evening to six weeks on the road, this Saturday night show was going to be his band’s last explosion of sound. You could tell Morby was both ecstatic and exhausted as he walked onstage. As the set began, it was evident from the fevered head-shaking of his bandmates that they intended to finish on a high note. Morby’s shaggy hair and navy suit bedazzled by felt shaped music notes aptly matched his freak folk/rock songs.

 

 

 

 

 

Shannon Lay

Shannon Lay, the opener for Kevin Morby’s set, bewitched the audience with a gentle electric guitar sound and waifey vocals. Her punk roots, as guitarist for the band Feels, was belied by bright orange hair tied back in pigtail braids  – giving her a punk rock Pipi Longstocking vibe. With endless reverb, Lay’s set felt “timeless”, in the words of Kevin Morby himself. Kevin had helped Lay produce the album “Live Water” that she was promoting on this tour.  At the beginning of his set, he recounted the story of seeing Lay perform her solo set in a small LA bar, and was so impressed that he promptly introduced himself afterward and offered to produce her record. This seasoned musician’s affection for Lay’s music was a notable recommendation that will likely accelerate her career, and her beautiful minimalist sound deserves the high praise.  Lay’s humor and affection is also a key feature of her onstage personality, further endearing us. Before playing my favorite song of the set, “All this Life Going Down”, she remarked – “Hey everyone.. congratulations on being alive. This world has been pretty darn crazy, hard, pretty and ugly. Congrats, just congrats on making it through.” Amen, sister.

 

 

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile

Courtney Barnett’s deep Aussie drawl is the perfect complement to her rye humor her storytelling/songwriting style is known for. Kurt Vile’s jangly Americana style is similar to the lack of inflection in his vocals, but magically sonic melodies that render audiences emotionally rocked. This pair of low profile, highly talented guitarists began recording duet songs together in 2017 to the delight of fans across the world.The way Barnett and Vile lock into grooves, trading barbs in deadpan tones, and dueling with seemingly effortless yet entrancing guitar riffs makes for a delightful endeavor that plays to both artists’ strengths. They premiered these new songs at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass this past week. In the fields of Golden Gate Park, surrounded by sun-dappled eucalyptus trees, the two began their Fall tour. Enjoy this title track, “Over Everything”, from their forthcoming 2017 collaborative album “Lotta Sea Lice”, out October 13th.

 

 

 

 

 

Next post will feature Son Little, until then enjoy my Fall new music playlist: