The Knife Tickets

Worst concert I've ever been to. Too much frisking at the door. I'm not boarding a plane.

I believe I first heard about eccentric electronic duo The Knife around the time that the mysterious project iamamwhoami began posting creepy videos and the Internet was guessing who was behind them. While it ended up being Jonna Lee from Sweden, one of the more prominent speculations was that it had something to do with the aforementioned group, based out of the same country. I soon stumbled across a song, "We Share Our Mother's Health" and was intrigued by how danceable yet otherworldly it was - creepy in a drugged-out nightmarish sense, not an over-the-top slasher flick. Anyway I never ventured much past that song until their 2013 release Shaking the Habitual. I listened to the whole thing and found it at once danceable yet alienating. When they began touring in Europe word leaked out that the shows were very unorthodox - mostly dancing to prerecorded tracks. I was still interested to see them, however, and their Coachella booking excited me. When they announced a pre-Coachella show at the Fox I figured I might as well go in case there was an unavoidable festival conflict. Turns out they tweaked the show a bit for American audiences, and I found the whole thing pretty spectacular. After some house/dance music pumped into the crowd for a while, a colorful guy came out and conducted, literally, aerobics with us. It was a lot of fun and different. Then the "band" came out - a troupe of 11 or 12 simply costumed individuals - and began performing ominously with a wide array of colorful and unorthodox instruments. The lighting was simple but superb. Eventually the music picked up, revealing the group's contradiction between futuristic and almost tribal elements. The theme was multi-instrumentalism with lots of switching between drums, e-clarinets, and that giant, scary sitar-looking thing. There were a couple solos on that and the e-clarinet that really exemplified this was a group of performers and musicians, not just dancers (as if that somehow diminishes their talent). One interesting thing is that the two primary members of the Knife were not really distinguished from the rest of the group; no effort was made to point them out. After a few songs full of musical performance the group switched to dancing and this was the part that had received criticism overseas. However live singing was still an element and I have to say the dance choreography - something I am no expert on - was certainly compelling and seemed to highlight the themes of the songs. (Mainly, the idea of literally "shaking the habitual" - shaking what we know, the customary.) The closest mainstream thing one might compare this stuff to is Cirque du Soleil, but with more, well, dance music. However, it felt truly unique and particularly intimate given the venue and the fact that I was lucky to get a really good and close spot in the pit. The dance/performance art eventually gave way to a strobe-light focused rave segment which was an exciting climax, and before long the group waved goodbye and left the stage. Us audiences being spoiled with encores, we hoped/expected they would return for another number, but alas the music kept pumping and eventually transitioned into an afterparty DJ as the curtains closed and a dance party picked up steam in the pit. Perhaps not the strangest way to end a show but certainly interesting and playing with expectations. As it was getting late and I had to pack for Coachella I couldn't stay for the rest of the dance party but the night as a whole was very memorable and I would be interested to see them again whenever they come around next. I have a feeling it will be very different from this.

What a disappointment. I've been waiting years to see them to now say that the show was only sub par at best. I wish I'd have stayed home.

This was my first time seeing The Knife in concert. I wasn't sure what to expect and loved the celebratory, fun, dancing environment.

The Knife put on an amazing show. Nice and unique dance choreography and costume changes. Interesting use instruments.

As a friend said, "I'd really like to meet the computer that put on that show". For a good portion of the show, the dance performance was the primary focus, with everyone (including Karin) dancing to backing music/vocals. There were some songs with instruments, and they were great, but definitely seemed to be the minority of time. There were a few older songs, such as We Share Our Mother's Health, and One Hit, which were wonderful, because I know and love those two songs in particular, but I'm not as familiar with the songs on Shaking the Habitual so I got less out of them (I should have done my homework).

Danceoke was incredible. The song arrangements were interesting and the atmosphere just fun. You knew you were seeing something special. I hope they ever tour again.

They turned that show into a rave with remixed versions of their songs as house music. Not cool, The Knife!

Amateurish. Bad art school presentation. Worst show that I have gone to in years.

Pros: - Amazing lighting and other visual effects - Amazing choreography - Great connection with the audience - (When used) wonderful instrumentalists and vocalists Cons: - Not much live music, most music was prerecorded with live vocals or some instruments - (sound technicians fault not the knife) Mix was too muddy, to much emphasis in the 300-500Hz range. At times could not make out vocalists or other high ranges. I would not call this a musical act as much as I would call this a visual performance with some live music. Still a wonderful event to go to, completely worth the 8 hour round trip drive from San Luis Obispo. Completely not what I excepted but I was pleasantly surprised.

Wow, holy smokes, what an amazing show. These guys brought the feeling, the moves, the designs, everything.

I would expect the bands to actually play their instruments if I'm paying $45 to see the show. The lights and visuals were fantastic but felt the show was at a high school level of showmanship.

Very hard to fully describe THE KNIFE....kind of like Bjork meets Sigur Ros meets the Mark Morris Dance Troupe!!! Beautiful stage setting and lighting with 10 members in turquoise robe-like garb moving about the stage on different tiers....some dancing...different members singing at any given time. Some playing unique musical instruments. Dance moves that are sometimes synchronized and sometimes individual. The entire presentation is mesmerizing along with the electro dance music. It is certainly a unique performance that is unforgettable!!! THE KNIFE are simply brilliant. Quite cool after they conclude and leave the stage, the wonderful Fox Theatre in Oakland continued the dance music so that people could continue to party and dance.

I love the Knife. I love Fever Ray. I realized I wasn't as in love with the Knife's new album. Don't get me wrong, it's good. I just love their old music and was hoping to hear more of it. The lights and dancing made this a pretty damn good show.

I left the event early. I could not enjoy the show. I sat in the balcony. There were a few people in the rows in front that were standing up and dancing, obstructing my view. I could not see the stage and saw no point in being there.

If you like the knife, you don't really know how great they are until you see them live!!! This was for sure one of the best shows I have seen. Incredible!!!

I was very disappointed in this show. It was more of a cirque du soleil act than a concert with all the dance performances. And of course, everyone was waiting to hear "Heartbeats" and they didn't even play it. Wish I could get a refund.

There are no words good enough to describe this...FABULOUS, AWESOME, EXTRAORDINARY, PHENOMENAL, A MAY ZING! UNIQUE is what I have to say about the DEEP AEROBICS...so completely unusual & I'm not sure in what way???? I feel so privileged & thankful I was able to see them & hope that I will have the pleasure to do so again.

I only wish there was less dancing and more actual playing of instruments instead of pre-recorded. So many people on stage walking around and dancing instead if playing music was very boring. First half great but we left early because we were bored.

I love The Knife. I loved this show! Lots of good energy. So happy I got to see them live!