One could not have asked for a more pristine summer evening, on Wednesday, July 12, when Fleet Foxes brought their sounds to the Beak and Skiff Orchard in Lafayette.
There is perhaps no other band more in touch with the various seasons these days than Fleet Foxes. Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Fleet Foxes continue to tour in support of their latest release, 2020’s highly praised Shore. The album, which was released for public consumption precisely at the autumnal equinox, drew much praise from critics and fans alike. Known for creating acoustic folk-rock with exquisite harmonies and musicianship, they have released four studio albums, several EPs as well as 2021’s live offering A Very Lonely Solstice.
Nigerian-born singer/songwriter, Uwade opened the evening. She is well known to fans of Fleet Foxes, having sung extensively on their latest release. Taking the stage by herself and armed with only an acoustic guitar, Uwade quickly took a captive hold of the audience. She delivered a thirty-minute set of acoustic folk tracks, intimately and honestly. It seems often this type of permanence can get lost in a large venue such as Beak and Skiff, however, this was not the case on this evening. The area surrounding the stage was quiet enough to hear a pin drop, as Uwade performed tracks dealing with topics such as the illness of her father. he was joined by Fleet Foxes members Christian Wargo and Christopher Icasiano to finish out her set.
After a brief intermission, the Fleet Foxes took to the stage. Boasting an impressive eight-piece band, and accompanied by opener Uwade, they immediately launched into “Sun Giant.” It was an appropriate opener to showcase what was to come, featuring a beautiful acapella track with layers of harmonies that floated about the concert field. The band followed with the mellow “Wading In Waist-High Water,” which saw Uwade again take lead vocals (as she did on the studio track) as layers of the band’s instrumentation built. The band then followed with the more upbeat “Can I Believe You,” which had the audience singing and dancing along.
As their set rolled on, the band would dig deeper into their catalog. Backed with a video board that showed nature scenes and other colorful visuals, the band churned out fan favorites such as “White Winter Hymnal,” “Montezuma,” and “Mykonos.” In what is becoming a tradition at their concerts, the band pulled an audience member from the crowd to sing and play guitar on “White Winter Hymnal.” For the uninformed, one would not have known this fan was not a lifelong member of the band.
In all the band would perform over 20 songs followed by a three-song encore. The band would close the evening with “Helplessness Blues,” a track about longing for a simpler life. Featuring the lyrics “If I had an orchard, I’d work ’til I’m raw,” it was a near-perfect ending to a brilliant evening of music.
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