I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: February 10, 2018] First Aid Kit

I first heard First Aid Kit from a Tiny Desk Concert back in 2012. I was immediately transported by their harmonies. And by the fact that the office looks dark and like they are the only ones in it (Bob, if you read this, if anyone deserves a second Tiny Desk it’s these two–maybe one with lights on!)

I also knew that Sarah would love them, which she did when I put “Emmylou” and “The Lion’s Roar” on a disc for her.  Then we bought the album and she’s become a bigger fan than me.

They played XPN Fest in 2015, but our first year at the Fest was 2016, so we didn’t have an opportunity to see them live until now.  Understandably, this show sold out pretty quickly, but I was quick on the draw and got my tickets right away.

When we got to Union Transfer there was a long line to get in (that ever happens!) And then there was a long (very orderly) line to get merch.  We knew we had to get one of the gorgeous posters which were of somewhat limited supply–although I saw at the end of the show that  they still had some, so I guess poor Sarah didn’t have to carry it all night long.

We were still pretty early and got a good location. The first wonderful thing about the crowd was that they were all short–except for one guy who was literally a foot taller than everyone else (he was very nice and a future librarian and was not in our way).  And unlike some of the more intense shows I’ve been to, nobody pushed his way up front at the last minute.  The crowd was courteous and polite (and even though it was sold out it didn’t feel cramped (maybe half the people had the flu)).

The stage was set up with keys on the left, drums in the middle and the slide guitar on the right.  The occupants of those instruments came out first: Steve Moore on keys and trombone, Scott Simpson on drums and Melvin Duffy on pedal steel.  And then Klara and Johanna came out and started singing “Rebel Heart.”

Leading up to the show Sarah was far more excited than I was.  I guess I had forgotten how utterly transportative their voices were or maybe I was leery that they couldn’t live up to the record.  But Klara started singing and she sounded amazing and then Johanna came in with harmonies and it was incredible.

I’ve been to a number of shows that haven’t really had any kind of stage set up.  So I was really delighted when the screen behind them lit up with a video of hearts swirling around.

We stood right in front of Johanna.  I didn’t realize that she played the bass.  The only time I’ve seen them was in the Tiny Desk Concert where she played the auto harp, and I assumed she played guitar.  It was nice surprise to see her with a bass–she had a lot of cool little runs and fills and I loved when she ended a bunch of songs with a slow slide up or down the neck. The clarity of her bass was awesome.

Klara was across the stage from us (we did wish they would have switched places once or twice).  It was hard to get a good picture of her, so we enjoyed when she came over to our side a few times.  She played acoustic guitar most of the time but switched to electric a few times too.

Their pedal steel guitarist, Melvin, also played lead guitar a few times (if you look at the picture of the his set list below you can see when he switched from pedal steel to other guitars).  I didn’t get a clear picture of him while he was playing but he did do a mean karate kick when he was introduced.

After “Rebel Heart,” they played “It’s a Shame,” their new single which I have completely fallen in love with (that swooping chorus!!) and it sounds even better live.

Klara spoke a few times between songs, she thanked us all for coming out (no discernible accent on either of them) and said we were all “Kings of the World.”  I was pretty excited to hear that great song from The Lion’s Roar.  And I loved when Johanna took the verse that Connor Oberst sings and Klara came over to Johanna’s mike to shout “Fire!” during the verse.

They played 8 of 10 songs from their new album Ruins. “Postcard,” they dedicated to their bus driver.  Their lyrics have always been surprisingly mature and “Postcard” (one of their more overtly country sounding songs) features this bridge:

I was just a kid when I fell for you
I’m not much older now but even then I knew
That the road was steep and full of strife

She even said “play it for us, Steve” and then introduced Steve as he played the keys.  She said that Steve has the best hair.  Steve played trombone on a few songs

I loved that even though they played all of these new songs they also peppered their show with older songs.  “Stay Gold” had a beautiful backdrop and sounded spectacular.   And then they made my night by playing “The Lion’s Roar” which might still be my favorite song of theirs (that changes all the time)–I also loved watching Johanna get into it.

And then they shocked at least Sarah and I by playing the powerful and really cathartic “You Are the Problem Here.”  I had heard that they had created a song that addressed a rapist, but I had no idea how effective and affecting it would be.  Klara picked up her white electric guitar and the raw sound she played pierced the good vibes of the set.  Then she lest loose with some powerful lyrics

When did you come to think refusal was sexy?
Can’t you see the tears in her eyes?
How did you ever think you had the right to
Put your entitled hands up her thighs?

You are the problem here
No one made you do anything
And I
And I hope you fucking suffer

When the song was over, Klara spoke out to women, to men, to everyone who needed to hear it.  She was clear and passionate and emotional (as were we all).

Johanna tried to lighten the mood somewhat by talking about their more upbeat songs…songs about about sadness and loneliness like to “To Live a Life” and “Ruins.”

They followed that with the song “Wolf,” a song that sounded familiar but which I apparently didn’t know (it’s was a bonus song from iTunes and is a fan favorite apparently).  Then they introduced a song from a sister duo from the 1970s.  Sarah and I couldn’t thin of who that was, although if we’d been following their tour we would have known immediately who it was (as the couple next to us did–but we prefer surprises after all).  They were speaking of Heart and they played an absolutely rocking and totally spot on cover of “Crazy on You.”  I often don’t want bands to play covers–I’m h ere for your songs, after all–but this cover totally ruled.  The drums were pretty great on it too.

Then they slowed things down for an absolutely gorgeous version of “Fireworks,” my newest favorite song. Everything about it was perfect.

The fact that they followed it with “Emmylou” was a delight  And since we all wanted to sing along, it was great that they gave us all a moment to share in the harmonies.

They ended the set with “Nothing Has to Be True,” a new song that Johanna sings most of the lead vocals on.  For some reason I was really taken with the way she was standing holding her bass and singing (her left hand of the back of the bass, arms crossed).

And then they left for an encore break (it was then that I noticed Klara’s sequined boots).

For the first song of the encore, Klara and Johanna gathered around a center microphone and taught us the (rather long and somewhat harder than it seems) la la la melody of “The Hem of Her Dress.”  Midway through the song, Steve came out with his trombone, and Melvin came out with his mandolin and by the end even Scott had come out with a hand drum.

I had assumed that that central microphone mean that Van William would come out for an encore of “Revolution” which Klara and Johanna sing on. But when they took down the old timey microphone and replaced it with a regular one, they called out their best friend Van.  Since Klara and Johanna have such a prominent role in the song it was a totally fitting encore.  And it was fun to have Van back.  When I talked to him after the show he said the fact that they had a trombone player meant it made more sense to play the song during their set rather than them coming out at the end of his.  It sounded great.

I had assumed that “Emmylou” would be the encore.  I had forgotten that they had only played one song from Stay Gold.  Sarah told me that they had played everything she wanted to hear but two songs.

The first was “Master Pretender.”  We all sang along to that wonderful song.

And I had completely forgotten about “My Silver Lining” (it happens).   I was really excited to hear it and it was a fantastic ending to the show.  [Sarah kind of wished they’d have played “Waitress Song” a new song that I am also quite taken with.  I also wonder how a band decides they are going to play all but two songs from a new record–those poor two songs].

After talking to Van, I assumed that no one from First Aid Kit came out to meet anyone (it’s got to be daunting at a sold out show).

So we headed back to the car listening to everyone on the street remark about what exceptional voices the sisters have–happy with harmonies in our heads.

Setlist

1. Rebel Heart ®
2. It’s a Shame ®
3. King of the World £
4. Postcard ®
5. Stay Gold $
6. The Lion’s Roar £
7. You Are the Problem Here
8. To Live a Life ®
9. Ruins ®
10. Wolf
11. Crazy on You
12. Fireworks ®
13. Emmylou £
14. Nothing has To Be True ®
15. encore
16. Hem of Her Dress ®
17. Revolution
18. Master Pretender $
19. My Silver Lining $

®=Ruins (2018); $=Stay Gold (2014); £=Lion’s Roar (2012)