Joanna Newsom’s tour for her recently released triple album “Have One on Me” just got a lot more interesting. Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold will be opening for the talented folk star on six of her dates. March 31st in Bloomington at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre just happens to be one of those six.
Pecknold’s talents, much like Newsom, are endless. Fronting what is quite possibly the most important band of the last ten years, Pecknold will be making this trek alone. Which is not all bad, because with Fleet Foxes having an new album due sometime this year there is a strong likelihood that new songs will be incorporated into the set. Even if we don’t get new songs, just hearing the voice of Robin Pecknold will suffice. Fleet Foxes vocal harmonies and musicianship is unparalleled not just in the Indie genre, but in the entire realm of music. There is not a more cohesive, well studied group of musicians in this universe, and Pecknold leads them onto unwanted stardom. If your ears are virgins to Fleet Foxes, do indulge them. Everything they have done up to this point is a landmark in American music. If, god forbid, they stopped making music right now their legacy would already be cemented with only one album and one EP to their name.
With Joanna Newsom you get some true contemporary folk. She’s made playing the harp cool. Not having heard from her in several years, the release of her triple album is a big deal. It’s such a big deal a review might be forthcoming, but don’t hold your breath. With a new album always comes a new tour, this tour in particular will see her spending the better part of her spring touring North America with some dates overseas included.
While I maybe biased since I’m such a fanboy for Fleet Foxes and good Indie music, this pairing has me excited beyond words. Both artists are supremely talented individuals who are all about the music. Your not going to see pyrotechnics or outlandish stage sets. What your going to get is an education in music. Any expectations for anything involving a hint of the Fleet Foxes are always high, and this concert is no exception. I anticipate a show that will leave jaws on the floor. The hardest part for Joanna will be following Robin on those six nights. She certainly didn’t make it easy on herself.
Tour Dates:
3-12 Grand Rapids, MI – Calvin College Chapel
3-13 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Concert Theatre
3-14 Montreal, Quebec – Ukrainian Federation
3-15 Montreal, Quebec – Ukrainian Federation
3-17 Cambridge, MA – Sanders Theatre
3-18 New York, NY – Town Hall
3-19 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
3-20 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
3-22 Washington, DC – Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
3-23 Washington, DC – Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
3-24 Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theatre
3-25 Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre
3-26 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
3-27 Knoxville, TN – Big Ears Festival
3-28 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
3-29 Columbus, OH – Southern Theatre
3-30 Cincinnati, OH – MusicNow Festival
3-31 Bloomington, IN – Buskirk-Chumley Theatre
4-02 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
4-03 Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
5-09 Minehead, Englan – All Tomorrow’ Parties
5-11 London, England – Royal Festival Hall
5-12 London, England – Royal Festival Hall
5-14 Brussels, Belgium – Cirgue Royale
5-16 Hamburg, Germany – Kampnagel
5-17 Berlin, Germany – PassionSkirche
5-19 Düsseldorf, Germany – Savoy
5-21 Frankfurt, Germany – Dreikoenigskirche
5-29 Eindhoven, Netherlands – Muziekcentrum Frits Philips
