| FLEET FOXES live at the Auckland Town Hall - January 14th, 2012. |
| Written by Alice Hunt |
| Sunday, 15 January 2012 22:40 |
 When FLEET FOXES played Auckland's Bruce Mason Centre back in January of 2009, I knew little to nothing about them, except that they had amazing facial hair and harmonies - yet by the end of their show, I was in love with their gentle folk-rock sound. Three years on, I found myself at a sold-out Auckland Town Hall show where the atmosphere felt grander than the modest show of 2009 - the crowd was larger, the smoke on the stage billowed thicker, but the talk of beards was as prominent as ever. Was I slightly disappointed by the lack of flannel in the crowd? Perhaps, but this was all forgotten by the time Fleet Foxes took to the stage.   Amidst the smoke and spotlights, I wondered if ever a venue was more perfect for a band. Opening with 'The Plains / Better Dancer', frontman ROBIN PECKNOLD's voice captivated the hushed audience whilst the band were lost in the shadows. As if the venue itself wasn’t enough, the lighting complimented the tone and tempo of Fleet Foxes perfectly, whether through a lone spotlight on Pecknold during 'Mykonos', or the back-lit a capella end to 'Bedouin Dress', the lighting provided a perfect visual aid to truly make the songs come to life. Throughout the almost two-hour set, the band played a good mix of both their albums. 'Your Protector', 'White Winter Hymnal' and 'Ragged Wood', got the crowd going through the middle section of the set, while 'He Doesn’t Know Why' proved to be a clear crowd favourite before being followed by 'English House', 'The Shrine / An Argument', the haunting 'Blue Spotted Tail' and upbeat set-ender, 'Grown Ocean'.   A light-hearted request from Pecknold at the beginning of the encore wanting to know the best place to buy All Blacks socks from, was followed by another highlight of the show, 'Oliver James'. I can still hear the lyrics "Oliver James, washed in the rain, no longer" sung with such emotion by a sole Pecknold, ringing in my ears. With the show winding down, 'Sun It Rises' and 'Blue Ridge Mountains' were met by thunderous feet-stamping from the seated-half of the audience - yet it was the last song of the night 'Helplessness Blues' which received the most crowd enthusiasm, ending the four-song encore on a high and suggesting that not one person leaving the Town Hall afterwards, felt blue at all. Click HERE to view more live FLEET FOXES photos.    |
