Feist, Rogue Wave
@ Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh PA (9/13/07)
The stereotypical image of an indie rock concert is that of hip teenagers and twenty-somethings either standing still, tapping their feet, or (at best) swaying slowly back and forth. Some band is playing just as motionlessly on stage, and clapping and cheering is allowed, but full-on dancing is rare if not extinct. Remember, this may be a rock concert, but it is an indie rock concert.
So when you pack this crowd into a music hall and force them to sit, you would think things wouldn't feel so different. But they do. Maybe it is because it removes the possibility of dancing, or limits just how far one could sway; whatever the reason, there is simply something disturbing about being asked to sit through a rock concert. You constantly want to jump out of your seat, even if just to stand, but completely blocking the view of the audience member behind you is a bit rude.
Thus, on top of the indie crowd being stereotypically less energetic than, say, the Justin Timberlake crowd, some venues make it even tougher for the bands. Some groups buckle under the pressure, but others rise to challenge and kick so much ass that afterwards you could not imagine them playing as well anywhere else. (Who are these heroic groups? A hint: Feist at Carnegie Music Hall was amazing.)
Unfortunately, Rogue Wave had even more going against them that night. Despite their popularity, the band played only a 30-minute set, and not even to a packed house. Audience members shuffled in and out of the music hall, talked, and were generally ambivalent about Rogue Wave being on stage. I was surprised to see this, since Descended Like Vultures had a great response when it came out, and the band's songs have been featured on television multiple times. Still, as much of the audience waited for Feist outside the hall, there were not enough people inside to soak in all the reverberations. Rogue Wave ended up sounding almost as if they were playing in some high school gymnasium. (Not really their fault, but it certainly took away from the experience nonetheless.)
In general, Rogue Wave sounded like they were playing down to their venue. They are a great band with a great catalog of lively songs, but they filled half of their set with slow numbers. However, lead singer Zach Rogue's small mic breaks betrayed a big potential; short, funny bursts that showed he was at least trying to connect with the audience. I can definitely see them shining as headliners with an enthusiastic crowd they could feed off of. A better setlist, a stronger crowd, and maybe some "standing-room only" would make for a fantastic Rogue Wave show.
Of course, this wasn't a Rogue Wave concert (a point driven home quite well by their short set and tiny name on the flyers). This was a Feist concert. And if Rogue Wave had taken the audience's ambivalence and returned an ambivalent performance, Feist did just the same with the audience's excitement.
The crowd roared as Leslie Feist bounced onto stage, a huge grin on her face. Right from the beginning, she let the crowd know they were in for a great time. A slow buildup got the audience in the mood, and by the time "When I Was a Young Girl" really let loose, everyone was dancing in their seats. The energy of the songs quickly died down as Feist went into a quieter set, but another upbeat set was never too far away. With this, Feist managed to play everything from lullabies to rockers, and never get boring. This was crucial, since Feist doesn't have the catalog to play a two hour (2 hours!) show without ever letting things slow down. Even though one front-row member fell asleep (the band was kind enough to bring him a cup of coffee), the rest of the audience sat attentively, enthralled by Leslie's emotion and liveliness.
Equally enthralling were the mic breaks between songs, as Feist told stories about the songs and joked about her guitar strap troubles. The most important thing you want from a concert is to feel like it was a unique experience; that it was more than just listening to the album while surrounded by a couple hundred people. Feist's energy and humor ensured this feeling, but even the songs were different. The songs remained pretty much the same, but every now and then some small flourishes were added; adding an improvised introduction of whistling, holding onto those notes for just a few seconds longer, adding a bridge, and so on. It was barely noticeable at times, but definitely made the experience special.
I hate to end by criticizing Rogue Wave's performance since I love them so much, but Feist was pretty much the opposite of Rogue Wave. She played to the venue's strengths, with a lot of intimate, slow sets. The lights would dim, she would sing softly, and an already cozy venue would feel even cozier. It felt like a private performance just for me and my section of the hall. And while Rogue Wave ignored the fact that none of us really wanted to be sitting down, Feist joked about it numerous times anytime she played a song we had to have been crazy to keep seated for ("My Moon My Man" anyone?). Everyone stood and cheered as she came back for her encore, and when everyone went to sit down again, she asked if we could all stay standing. Because, as she proved over and over again that night, we had come to a rock concert, indie or not.
LISTEN:
Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan (live at Carnegie Music Hall 9-13-07)
Feist - When I Was a Young Girl (live at Carnegie Music Hall 9-13-07)
Feist - So Sorry (live at Carnegie Music Hall 9-13-07)
Feist - Fucked Up Kid (Kevin Drew cover, live at Carnegie Music Hall 9-13-07)
Feist - Untitled tracks (live at Carnegie Music Hall 9-13-07)
(If anyone knows the names of the two tracks in the last link, let me know in the comments.)
by Spencer Sugarman