Feist
Seeing Feist was overall a real treat. It was a bit offputting to see so many Tower get-your-record-autographed-after-the-show-if you-buy-it-here-now signs at Schubas no less but other than that, it felt right. Overall, she comes off much different than I had expected her to. She really has a very ham personality and was very encouraging of audience participation. At times, she said some pretty random things like. (approx) “I just got an email from my father over the internet and he told me he loved Chicago because that’s where he escaped the draft by failing his physical. So Papa Feist loves Chicago.” or (again approx) “Find someone to slow dance with on this next one or find someone who you don’t want to deal with that you didn’t think would be here and stare at the back of their head.” To be frank, I did sense a subtle bitterness under all of that soulfulness. It’s one thing to be sorrowful and sing about broken hearts on your knees, which she did, but again I sensed something else as well.
Did I mention how much of a ham she was? She sold out both nights (I’m so glad for her) and so maybe she was feeling positive music-wise. She made even the more melancholy songs off Let It Die rock out a bit. She was plugged in! She also ended with a Broken Social Scene song that she said would be on their new album and I have to tell you it was so danceably good.
October 12th, 2005 at 8:44 pm
[...] I have to say though, the guy from Schubas has been really great and responsive and I am feeling better about that whole thing now. Good for them. I like Schubas. I feel a great deal better knowing that they are being aware and aren’t willing to start setting up army booths and whatnot-aren’t willing to compromise any political or musical integrity. In addition. they have great sound there and a very nice intimate setting to see some of the best bands around. Throughout my four years in the city, I’ve seen the Shins, Kings of Convenience, Robyn Hitchcock, Papas Fritas, Dressy Bessy, Tenki. Edith Frost, Central Falls, The Walkmen, the French Kicks, Andrew Bird, The Vandermark 5, the Wrens, the Innocence Mission, the Stars, Andrew Morgan, Keren Ann, Feist and Nouvelle Vague [...]
October 29th, 2005 at 9:55 pm
[...] This was the second time seeing Feist, the first being at Schubas headlining, which I blogged about here. Although she was technically the opener this time, she is also a part of the headliner Broken Social Scene so I think it was truly her night to shine in many ways. And, as I had sort of suspected, you could tell she was thrilled by the fact that there was a full crowd that came early to see her play. [...]