Feist @ Knitting Factory: A CMJ Appetizer

Feist's Let It Die will find itself on my Top 5 albums of the year. It's a throwback to the singer-songwriter vibe of mid-70s AM radio, yet it's not done in a jokey manner. With flugelhorn, slight disco beats and organs, you would expect to see it in a late night commercial from K-Tel. What makes the album distinctive is her voice. You can spot it in anything she does from Broken Social Scene to Kings of Convenience.

In contrast, the live show (first of two) is not a faithful recreation of Let It Die. The slow songs are amped up and the fast songs are slowed down. Her big UK hit, a remake of The Bee Gees' "Inside & Out" was done solo. As she said, "this is the remix version." My favorite song on the album, "Mushaboom," was presented with a heavy, almost rockabilly guitar.

The gig did remind me of Kings of Convenience. The loving songs held the audience quiet, then Leslie bantered with crowd in an amusing way. Plus, she encouraged people to clap along, sing some background and throw change onto the stage since you had to download her songs on Limewire before she released her album in the states.

I gotta tell you -- she's adorable. She's goofy and giggly with a playful stage banter. Even though she had bad sound problems, she managed to smile through them. It awesome that she makes you feel part of the experience, like she's there to share the music with you.

I've managed to get through this post without mentioning that she's Canadian. Oh wait, I just did. DOH!

Here are some pics. Tomorrow is Doves, so check back here late tomorrow nights. It's gonna RAWK!