In going to many shows, and seeing the same bands over and over, I've come to terms with what really gets me in a live show. It simply isn't enough that a band gets up there and sings - I need a bit more to keep me happy. The Kings of Convenience really pushed kindness and fun. The Norwegian pair casually walked on stage just past ten and greeted the audience. Erlend politely thanked everyone for coming out and asked people to keep it down during the slow songs, while discouraging loud drink purchases in those times. His running joke was that every bar they played in the US shut down their drink services when they were playing and the Phoenix was the sole exception. This was obviously not true, but it was cute nonetheless.
Their stage show was so attractive because they were having fun. Considering these guys have likely been playing together for over a decade they managed to keep everything fun and light. Midway through the show, Eirik gave Erlend the stage claiming he had a very special song planned. He played the tune "Heart Like a Wheel" in memory of Kate McGarrigle. His introduction was very lovely, he started by saying he loves many Toronto musicians, of them he rattled off Broken Social Scene and the lovely Feist (who was not in attendance because she's currently in Spain). It made me really happy that other people were let down too! He then started to reminisce of his childhood and his parents listening to the McGarrigle sisters albums. He said: "I'm not sure if they're from Toronto..." Despite unease about where they were from, he played a lovely, condensed version of "Heart Like a Wheel" (1975). After a bit of research - I found out that the song was written by the McGarrigles, but was first released by Linda Ronstadt and more amazingly Billy Bragg. Erlend said he only knew a few minutes of the song because that's all he could learn backstage just before the show.
Erlend definitely was the charismatic person. A good stage show now involves some serious charisma. Erlend danced a bunch and was very animated, with truck loads of heart. At one point he even took two fans on stage for a dance off to what I believe was their tune "Love is No Big Truth." In this section, they played about four songs with the band. I have never heard them play with a full band, so it was a bit of shock, but it gave their songs some much needed revitalisation. It was at this point in the show that I was feeling a bit floppy from standing in one spot for such a long period of time. It was really fun to have the band out to play their more lively songs. After the dance off they played "I'd Rather Dance With You" and another song I can't put my finger on this very moment.
The video for "I'd Rather Dance With You" pretty much captures what fun this band was. By the end of the dance off, Erlend told the audience that there was too much room in the front and we all needed to cramp together. I was near the back and I must've moved three or four big steps towards the front of the stage. He then insisted everyone to dance the way the dance off pair did.
At some point they also divided the crowd in two and conducted a two part choir bit to conclude one of their songs. At the end of "Know How" they asked everyone to sing Feist's finale bit... "Oh...What is there to know? Oh... This is what it is." At the end they thanked the crowd for being their girl replacement. I realised how Feist owns those parts, they are her parts, I couldn't see any other person doing them. Much to my chagrin, they didn't play "The Build-Up," another Feist heavy song.
The biggest let down of the show was the simplicity of the group. Their biggest asset is their biggest flaw as well. I really couldn't handle an entire show of just guitar and vocals. Although they were absolutely charming and they sounded perfect, it was simply too bare. Their new album's greatest appeal was its instrumentation and life (released at the end of October 2009), this was something the other albums seriously lacked. 'Declaration of Dependence' had full band arrangements, and most importantly a very dominant violin accompaniment throughout the entire album. I really love how it fits in the tune "Boat Behind." Anytime I hear a really well crafted violin part I think to the jazz genius Stephane Grapelli. On the album, the violin was really well played in the song "Peacetime Resistance," again completely lost in the live show.
I loved how real they were in talking to the crowd, nothing of their show was staged. This was really refreshing after coming out from a Carole King/James Taylor show where their words were practically teleprompted. Eirik talked about the last time they were in Toronto, five years ago. He said they played at Lee's, and asked the crowd who was there, only a dozen or so people stuck their hands up. He was very grateful more people were at this gig. He said it was in the winter season and he didn't have a coat, so his memories were trapped in finding a "Canadian Goose" coat to wear. He very politely tied in that he is very prone to colds, hence why they had to cancel their February 2010 show, as originally planned. Soon after the pair broke out into the song "Mrs. Cold."
I had a surprisingly lovely time. It was fun and comfortable. I would have really've like to see them at a more stripped down, smaller venue. I think their intimate sound could have greatly benefited from the closeness that a smaller venue could have provided.
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