First Aid Kit- Bradley Theater, Lakeland College, Plymouth, WI 11/21/14

Is there anything more beautiful in music than pitch-perfect vocal harmonies?    This question was posed to the capacity audience by the sisters from Stockholm, Sweden, Klara and Johanna Söderberg, better known as First Aid Kit, during their stunning performance at the Bradley Theater at Lakeland College.  

First Aid Kit has become quite the buzz band on the indie folk scene this year, following their exceptional release Stay Gold, which was released in June.  From a country known for more dance and electronic musical exports like Abba, Ace of Base, and more recently, The Knife, First Aid Kit has redefined the Swedish sound to an extent, rooting themselves in the Americana, country, and folk genres.  The band received considerable buzz from notable musicians, including collaborating with Connor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame, and also opening some shows for Jack White.  This stop on the Stay Gold Tour was perhaps the most unique. While the band is selling out mid-sized theaters across the country, this show saw them play the Bradley Theater, which holds a little more than 400 people at Lakeland College in Plymouth, WI, about an hour north of Milwaukee.  

The approachable and humble nature of the Söderberg sisters was ever present in their set.  Johanna recalled their day in Milwaukee, and gave a shout out to 88.9 Radio Milwaukee for featuring them in a studio performance earlier in the afternoon. Sister Klara also stated that this was their first time playing at a college.  

Accompanied by a virtuoso drummer and an exceptional multi-instrumentalist (who rotated between pedal steel, guitar and mandolin), the band opened with "The Lion's Roar," an energetic and passionate first  track off of First Aid Kit's 2012 album by the same name.  Other highlights included a chillingly intricate performance of "Ghost Town," which was sung by the two sisters without microphones or amplification.   "My Silver Lining," the band's breakthrough track off of Stay Gold, provided great energy as well.  Perhaps the highlight of the show, was the somewhat surprising track that followed their hit. First Aid Kit recalled meeting and touring with Jack White, and performed, "Love Interruption," magnificently, giving White's original a fresh and passionate take.  The show closed with the song "Wolf," a bonus track off of the band's 2012 record with each of the band members leaving the stage until the drummer finished off the show with an impressive staccato solo.  

First Aid Kit returned for an encore, performing"Waiter at the Station," a Willy Mason cover, whom First Aid Kit toured with previously.  For this number, opening act Samantha Crain, joined the band.  From there, the band played "Master Pretender," and closed the evening's music with a riveting take on "Emmylou," perhaps the band's biggest hit and a stand out number.

Speaking of Samantha Crain, her storytelling heavy set opened the show.  Crain's lyrics, like those of First Aid Kit, are very much the focal part of her music.  In her half hour set, she played a variety of  numbers from throughout her catalog, including, a highlight, "Devils in Boston," from 2009's Songs in the Night release.  Her vocals, like those of the Söderberg sisters were fantastic. 
To answer the musical question posed by the Söderberg sisters, "is there anything more beautiful in music than pitch-perfect vocal harmonies," for their hour and fifteen minute set, the answer, according to First Aid Kit is undeniably, "NO."

Setlist:
The Lion's Roar
Stay Gold
Blue
King of the World
In the Hearts of Men
Waitress Song
Shattered and Hollow
Ghost Town
My Silver Lining
Love Interrupted (Jack White cover)
Heaven Knows
Wolf

Encore:
Waiter at the Station (Willy Mason cover) with Samantha Crain
Master Pretender
Emmylou all photos courtesy of GigShots by Stephen Bloch.

The New Pornographers- Pabst Theater, 11/13/14

photo courtesy of Benjamin Wick Photography

It's been a good four years since the indie-rock super group from Canada had visited Milwaukee for a concert.  I have had the pleasure of seeing the New Pornographers several times in the past including their March 11, 2006 show opening for Belle and Sebastian at the Riverside Theater, along with their October 2007 and June 2012 shows at the Pabst Theater.  This show, like the ones in the past, saw the New Pornographers playing to their strengths-- performing high-octane indie power-pop rock with minimal breaks between songs.  Thursday's concert was perhaps the best I've seen the New Pornographers live as they now are drawing from a deeper catalog, and putting on a nearly two-hour concert, including a double-encore highlighting tunes from throughout their career.  As a wise person once said, "if it ain't broke don't fix it," and this mantra surely can been seen as the formula of success for the New Pornographers, and their longevity to engage and draw near capacity crowds each time they play.

photo courtesy of Benjamin Wick Photography

The band was touring in support of their latest 2014 release, Brill Bruisers, a record which sees the seven piece super group return to old form, focusing on three chord guitar riffs, quick vocal interplay between Neko Case and A.C. Newman/Dan Bejar, and a heavy dose of keyboards to hold the melodies together. The concert opened with "Brill Brusiers," the most infectious and title track off of the new album.  "Dancehall Donine," was another highlight from Brill Bruisers that was played early in the set and well-received by the fans.  Later in the set, the group performed, "Champions of Red Wine," another new stand-out track which accentuated Neko Case's powerful vocal range.

However, the highlights of the show were clearly material from the group's back catalog.  The crowd erupted into a sing-along during the Dan Bejar track, "Myriad Harbor" (from 2007's Challengers). As is customary, Bejar will join the band for numbers he plays on, and then disappear backstage to until he is needed again.    He certainly got the crowd going when he was on stage though, performing an anthematic "Testament to Youth in Verse," (from 2003's Electric Version) mid set.

Neko Case had her share of highlights, nailing crisp vocals on "Challengers," (from the 2007 album of the same name), and"Crash Years" (off of 2010's Together).

A.C. Newman is certainly the band leader who keeps the eclectic personalities of the New Pornographers in order, and deserves his place as the front and center leader of the band during numbers like, "Moves" (from 2010's Together), "Use It" (from 2005's stellar Twin Cinema), and "The Laws Have Changed," (from 2003's electric version), to name a few.

The band knows how to craft a set list to make fans go home happy, and ended the show in grand fashion, closing with a riveting "Mass Romantic," (from their 2000 debut release of the same name), encoring or the first time with "Bleeding Heart Show," (off of 2005's Twin Cinema, and arguably the band's signature number), and even dusting off "My Slow Decent," (of off 2000's Mass Romantic) to end the concert after the crowd demanded a rousing second encore.  

If you didn't like the New Ponrographers before, I am not sure how much Thursday's show did to recruit new fans to the band.  Their performance was highly energetic, tried and true and the show had the audience cheering for more even after a set of over twenty tunes.  As long as the New Pornographers keep crafting their infectious pop-rock, I am certain their Milwaukee audience will come out to see it.  .

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Wick Photography