It’s a rare thing when the quality of the music you hear live ends up being better than the recording. In my experience, live performances often include errors, and the sound is never as polished as an album that benefited from lots of care and production time.
It was for this reason that Bat for Lashes‘ performance was such a shock. The concert was not only riveting to watch, but sounded nearly perfect.
The band had a lot of good things going for them from the get-go. The Wonder Ballroom is an incredibly intimate, warm setting for a venue of that size. The acoustics are spot on, and there is little divide between the performers and the audience, enriching the interactive experience of the show.
Openers Other Lives, a five-piece indie rock outfit from Oklahoma, started out the evening with a surprisingly moving set. Singer Jesse Tabish has a warm, inviting voice that is smooth and emotive in a way that tugs at your heart. The rest of the band was equally talented in their musicianship, providing an eerie folk-rock soundscape and wonderful harmonies that complemented Tabish’s singing perfectly.
Following Other Lives, Natasha Khan, the woman behind Bat for Lashes, took the stage in a whirl of colorfully light and crafty outfits. Khan is a compelling performer, swaying on stage and twirling her arms in the sky as she sings. What really made the performance incredible though was her voice. She was perfectly on pitch the entire set, never for a moment missing a beat. It was a little frightening how good she can sing live while dancing around stage, a feat not easily accomplished by even the most seasoned of performers.
Khan’s backing band likewise showed impressive talent, featuring the lesser known English guitarist and singer-songwriter Charlotte Hatherley, a stellar musician in her own right with a sound that blended perfectly into Khan’s work.
Khan’s set drew heavily from her previous album, Fur and Gold, as well as her new album, Two Suns, including an encore performance of her hit single “Daniel.” Khan also finished out the night with a rendition of “Prescilla” that included some very pretty auto-harp and left the audience enraptured and begging for more.
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Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
Also, I have yet to pay this venue a visit, is it good spot? good people, good vibe, good atmosphere?
... man, i hope i win some tickets…
by Jaz Bonnin-Aldatz on Thu May 17, 2012 at 12.27 am from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Looking forward to the show. Would love to win some tix for my pals.
by MC Breath on Wed May 16, 2012 at 07.40 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
I’m dying to see him no better place than FETE!!
by Telly on Tue May 15, 2012 at 02.57 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Sound does matter. Viva Le Fete!
by Auquanetta on Tue May 15, 2012 at 01.13 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
YES! i MUST go to this show! i was just strollin down the street the other day and saw the poster! SO stoked they’ll be in town.
by Jaz on Mon May 14, 2012 at 05.30 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Fete Forever!!
by Tabitha on Mon May 14, 2012 at 05.08 pm from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
Congratulations and thank you to Fete for bringing talent to Providence! We needed this venue and vibe. Bless.
oh and I’d love to win tickets; its my boyfriends bday:D
by Ellen on Mon May 14, 2012 at 07.23 am from the entry: we'll see you (and Talib Kweli) at Fête!
