Grizzly Bear & The LSO @ The Barbican
Its hard to pin point what the major attraction of this show is. There’s the band with one of the best albums of the year and a debut album that is possibly one of the best of the decade, or there’s the world famous orchestra that commands mammoth audiences no matter what act they are supporting or if they are going it alone. Which ever it is, Halloween at the Barbican was always going to be a special night.
It would be fair to say that the Barbican, the home of classical and operatic productions, probably hasn’t seen such a cross breed of fashion at one of its shows for a while with a rather eclectic audience of traditional indie scenesters, people in suits and ties making a special effort in respect for the venue and one half of the main act, and the usual Halloween fanatics make up a rather interesting crowd. There’s an undead Ronald McDonald, V from V for Vendetta, a couple of corpse brides, and predictably, a grizzly bear wandering around.
The stage set up compliments this mysterious and rather surreal atmosphere. As Grizzly Bear come on they are surrounded by Harry Potter like floating lanterns that twinkle to life to the intensity of the music. Behind them climbs the thirty-strong orchestra like an army of support for the, initially timid, four-piece from Brooklyn. But from opener ‘Easier’ to the sublime conclusion in the shape of ‘Colorado’ its clear that no reservations were required as the audience is dazzled to a magical display of the sweeping grandiose, the flighty and subtle, and the fully rounded punch through the roof.
Throughout, the orchestrated arrangements are subtle, gently edging the music along rather than pulling it across the ground by the scruff of its neck. From the stage set up alone it is clear that this is Grizzly Bear’s show not the LSO’s and the sound levels exemplify that, occasionally much of the string section does get lost in the thumping bounce of Christopher Bear’s drums. But on the smaller songs the whole ensemble are allowed to fly, like on ‘Central and Remote’ which is given a new lease of life in this sparkling setting.
The two singles off latest album Veckatimest, ’Two Weeks’, and ’While You Wait for the Others’ are both performed without the orchestra which, judging by how much they get swamped out in other tracks, is a good thing. Ultimately these two tracks get the biggest cheers of the night, but the real treats come in the shape of the final two songs.
Veckatimest closer ‘Foreground’ ends the main body of the set with dark bubbling tension and creaking cello’s, it sounds huge and for such a slow burning song this is really something. After a brief departure from the stage, the band return for Yellow House closer ‘Colorado’, which is even more special. For the first time of the night it feels as though the orchestra are taking centre stage capturing the songs throbbing ebbs and flows to marvellous effect and when the band take control for the grand ending it feels so punchy that it sends the hairs up on the back of your neck.
As if proof was needed Grizzly Bear have really shown the audience tonight that they are one of the most exciting bands on the planet, and perhaps the LSO should be feeling humbled to be supporting them.