Kings of Convenience @ Bowery Ballroom: Sheer Simplicity

If you were by Delancey St at around 11:10pm and saw a bunch of smiling people, the explanation for that is we've all been blessed by Leslie Feist joining Kings of Convenience for their encore. Yeah, that's a 10 on the awesome scale. That's pants dropping excitement levels.

For the first 40 minutes of the show, the duo played all new material from their third studio album, Declaration of Dependence. Then someone yelled to play old material, which they obliged. They graced us with Homesick, Mislead, Cayman Island, Little Kids and a cover of It's My Party by Leslie Gore.

For their encore, Erlend strummed a few notes of "The Build Up" while in front of the microphone. I said to myself, "I wonder how they are going to do the Feist part." Next thing before everybody knew, you hear her voice from the balcony. BWAAAAAAHHHHH!!! The collective gasp from the sold out crowd could be probably by heard in Paramus.

She then made her way through the crowd to get on stage for the other song she sung on from Riot On An Empty Street, Know How. I got a better look at her on stage, and if she was standing at the bar with a t-shirt that "Yes, I'm Feist", I still wouldn't have recognized her.

If the show was absolutely incredible to begin with, then Feist's appearance makes a Top 5 Gigs of the Year candidate. This is my 4th K.O.C. show, going back to their 2002 gig at Angel Orensanz Foundation and going into their two shows at Bowery in Feb. 2005, and this was the best I've seen them. It's part soothing journey and another part comedy lecture.

This is their lone U.S. visit in preparation for the long awaited new album, out Oct. 3rd on Astralwerks. The new songs they trotted out included Peacetime Resistance, Scars on Land, Second to Numb, Boat Behind, 24-25 and Mrs Cold, I've haven't heard the final result, but hearing the new songs tonight made me think this might be the breakout year for Erlend and Eirik. They are just one iPod ad away from playing Town Hall or Saturday Night Live and having mainstream media catch on.

They've always been a personal favorite of mine for their ability to transport you with simple lyrics and classic guitar playing to certain times and places. They are from Norway, and you can feel the cold sometimes in their song. Through the years, I've paid more attention to the tropical aspects of them. This new album was recorded in Italy and you can hear how the country influenced the album. You picture this album being played in a seaside town in Spain or on the beaches of Brazil. On top of that, there's a sincerity and romanticism that speaks to me.

Then there's Erlend and Eirik, the live show -- the original Flight of the Conchords. I can bust out laughing just by looking at their wide smiles. Erlend would tune his guitar, while Eirik would look around, trying to not laugh himself. Erlend asked early on, "Did I complain about the air conditioning last time?" I don't think so. I do remember how told a story about he met the heir to the Smoothie King fortune. The big yucks of the night was when he asked for people not to take pictures for the next song, then proceeded to do mocking poses. I love it. It's a strange juxtaposition where everyone is having a good laugh, then the next moment, people are entranced by the beautiful music.

So, I'm hoping they get to do a proper U.S. tour. If it does come, it is a long time coming. Erlend explanation on the two year process of making the album was due to Eirik breaking his fingernail. Then, the rest of the U.S. should appreciate their new effort for Eirik's sacrifice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Matt]

Eirik actually looked over and said "Homesick" to Erland before the obnoxious "play old stuff" from the crowd...