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Bon Iver in Concert
With his 2007 debut album, Justin Vernon demonstrated the therapeutic, soul-cleansing properties of isolating yourself from the world in a wooden shed.
Distraught over breakups with both his girlfriend and his band (DeYarmond Edison) while recovering from a bout of mononucleosis, Vernon disappeared into the woods of his native Wisconsin in the dead of winter. He emerged with For Emma, Forever Ago, a disarming set of raw folk-rock confessionals fueled by tense acoustic strums and Vernon's pained, preternaturally soulful croon. (In keeping with the album's frigid recording environment, Vernon adopted the alias Bon Iver — a variation on the French term "bon hiver," or "good winter," which he heard used as a salutation on the 1990s TV show Northern Exposure.)
The album's unvarnished approach made Vernon an anomaly in a North American indie-rock scene otherwise dominated by the maximalist likes of Arcade Fire and Animal Collective, but its intense emotional wallop reverberated far beyond the underground. After his songs permeated the mainstream through placements on shows like Grey's Anatomy and House, Vernon found himself both getting sampled on and providing backing vocals to Kanye West's 2010 magnum opus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
That guest appearance transformed Vernon into an unlikely hot property in the hip-hop world, with the singer later turning up on tracks by Travis Scott, Vince Staples, and Lizzo, among others. Between his myriad collaborations and side groups (which include his partnership with The National's Aaron Dessner as Big Red Machine), Bon Iver albums tend to appear only every five years or so. But each one is a major event, signaling a radical change in approach. On 2011's Grammy Award–winning self-titled effort, Vernon's wounded balladry acquired a dreamy, soft-focus splendor, and 2016's 22, A Million recast that velvet-smooth voice against a mutating backdrop of burbling electronics and fractured beats.
More than I was expecting. Bon Iver still needs to add a few songs to their repertoire, but they put on a good show. The harmonies were there, although sometimes the levels seemed a bit off (the drums were too loud for some parts). I would definitely see them again. They are a young band and still finding their sound, but they have a unique quality that is hidden in the music and the voice.
What a great show and great venue. I would recommend that everyone who likes or even remotely likes Bon Iver, or any band like them, should see them live!!!!! We were so lucky that we caught them before their hiatus they mentioned they would be taking. I love this band!
Justin Vernon and his band are lovely humans and create magic with their vocals and instruments.
Bon Iver was so amazing, it was done really simple with beautiful lighting. Justin's voice and his harmonies with his band were amazing. Mike's solo song was also beautiful. They really seemed like they were enjoying themselves. This show has to be in my top five.
fantastic show as always. justin vernon is amazing.
Love the album, Bon Iver are certainly of the moment. Thought they'd expand on songs more with a four piece, kept it pretty quiet. Hard for the crowd to keep it quiet when they are a) a hot ticket and b) at a venue set up for bands to rock out. SRO on the floor, and we're supposed to stand quietly and listen? Can forgive the ego rock star excess of shushing and 10 guitars on stage since they are truly awesome and really seem to care. Might be a bit premature as a headliner - seemed to run out of material. Best moments were Justin by himself, says something about how to integrate the band with these songs. I was singing Flume and Re Stacks all the way home with my daughter. Haunting and beautiful. Needs to put out a Crazy Horse kind of album next, all feedback and mayhem, like the The Wolves - great fun!
It is rare moment in musical history when a band can come along and completely stun an audience. I was lucky enough to be a part of that magic last night. I have an avid concert-goer. I have never witnessed beauty such as that. The audience was literally silenced. I saw men and women wiping fallen tears from there eyes throughout the entire show. It is often times the case, that when a new band with only one album journeys out on tour...it may not be that great. Sometimes they sound new. They sound unrehearsed, or nervous or worse...they sound exactly like their album. No creativity live, yet. Bon Iver's power came in their live performace. Most of us, I am sure expected the show to be a one man show, but it certainly was not. Each band member was powerful and versatile. You could feel their excitement in playing in such a beautiful theater. It was so modest. This band and front man Justin Vernon seem to encapsulate the dichotomies of life and living. The only comparison I have is to Kahlil Gibran, the poet. You are able to feel the beauty of sorrow and joy, heart-filled and heart break all within a single verse. That is some powerful music!
My Girlfriend and I attend Bon Iver at the Fox, the Venue is stunning and created a amazing energy for the night's show. The Sold Out show was one that I won't soon forget. With the release of "Blood Bank" Bon Iver was able to add a few song's to their play list for the evening. This was my 2nd Bon Iver show (first being outside lands ) and they keep getting better. In a nutshell if you can get tickets ,,by all means go!
Beautiful show. The songs from Emma.. hold up well to expanded band versions and the full band harmonies were awesome. When I saw these guys at the first Outside Lands it was moving to see the "hipster" festival crowd lose the cynicism and actually sing along when prompted by Justin Vernon during "The Wolves". It still moves, more so now because of everyone still feels it after a couple of years of seeing Vernon get more well deserved exposure. The Fox Theater in Oakland is probably one of the best places in the Bay Area to see a show of this size.
Really really beautiful. Many very special and powerful moments. Plus the Fox is a stunning venue. A very fondly memorable show on many levels. Thanks to everyone (bands, crews, fox staff) for their hard work.
Incredible show. Justin and his crew were unforgettable. I was moved to tears twice.
First off, the Fox theatre is amazing if you haven't been there yet. I highly reccomend checking out a show there. Bon Iver sounded great, got the crowd involved, and played almost all of their songs. All in all, it was a really fun show.
loved the sound, but surely one could expect a band to play more than 9 songs on a gig. the venue was amazing.
Its not easy to get a group of hipsterish folks out on a Thurs (okay, maybe it is, but that's not the point), but Bon Iver did it. Running off the power of just one album, this group made it work. Not over-theatrical, Not spectacularly sparkling-but powerful. The Fox Theater is an amazing place too, so that combined with a show of down-hearted emotion that gets in your guts, is exactly what I think live shows should be about.
Justin Vernon and his band of Wisconsonites put on a remarkable show at the historic Fox theater in Oakland. Staying true to their midwestern roots, the show was efficiently and beautifully understated, as the crew sang soulfully harmonized lyrics which were expertly layered to the front of the mix. Warm lighting filled the room as the members changed instruments and positions on the stage, sometimes as a rock quartet and then in the round doing bluegrass. Musicianship was incredible and was led by Vernon's voice, as he ranged from a Nick Drake folk whisper to a D'Angelo neo-soul vibe. All in all, one of the best shows in Oakland this year.
