Grizzly Bear Are Brilliant In Toronto

Phoenix Concert Theatre

Toronto, ON

on Jun 5 2009

Matt Littlefair (CHARTattack)

06/08/2009 3:53pm

I think it's safe to say no one was as surprised as Grizzly Bear when their latest long player, Veckatimest, showed up at #8 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.

The band have been lauded in HTML script, music mags and by fellow artists alike, but they'd never been rewarded with 33,000 records sold in a single week before. It's a noteworthy feat by any standard in today's market, and it's especially impressive given people have been downloading a leaked version of Veckatimest for months now.

On Friday night, Grizzly Bear gave everyone a taste of why people are out buying what is assuredly a lock for record-of-year (and yes I am that confident in the enduring quality of what can only be termed a masterstroke of pop music).

Downloads, David Letterman and Billboard charts might've had a hand in the palpable buzz that consumed the sold-out Phoenix Concert Theatre, but the music was why people showed up. After Grizzly Bear took the stage to a rapturous crowd and settled into a rousing rendition of "Southern Point," Ed Droste, Daniel Rossen, Chris Bear and Chris Taylor made an unspoken musical declaration — whatever your expectations were, they were going to exceed them.

It was highlight after highlight from then on. The set never flagged, nor did the band relent. Normally quieter, more introspective songs were invigorated, but never at the expense of musicianship or charm.

It didn't matter if it was newer tracks like "Cheerleader" or "While You Wait For The Others" or more established tunes like "The Knife." Grizzly Bear took one assured step after another and made it look so easy in the process. The four-part harmonies and layered instrumentation were just as clear and even more dumbfounding in person than they are on record. It's a testament to how good Grizzly Bear are, as many critics and fans alike have marveled at the clarity of production on Veckatimest (with good cause).

Much to the delight of everyone in attendance, Grizzly Bear were kind enough to give little known chanteuse, Leslie Feist, a chance to bask in their reflected glory mid-set. It was nice to see the quartet welcome someone so relatively unknown outside the Toronto scene and provide her with a bit of much needed exposure. Thanks, Grizzly Bear!

Feist really did show up and performed "Service Bell," a song she and Grizzly Bear re-recorded for the Dark Was The Night benefit disc. Feist then stuck around to lend some "Aaahhhhs" and "Ohhssss" to an utterly astounding rendition of "Two Weeks," which sent even more people in an already dance-happy crowd into a languid frenzy.

Grizzly Bear were simply great, all hyperbole, clever adjectives and effusive accolades aside. They took an already brilliant record and turned it into an engrossing, awe-inspiring live show. This was hands down the best show I've seen this year and I don't know what, if anything, will surpass it before Dec. 31.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown and all that, but the gauntlet's been thrown down, the bar's been set and affable, unassuming Grizzly Bear will take on all comers and they'll win.

Check out photos from the show here.