Ain't it just like the present to be showing up like this?

Something about those words from Bon Iver's Blood Bank makes me pay attention every time I hear them. But tonight at Metropolis, when Flume came on and 2000 people, including your mother and I, were brought to complete silence, a community was at once forged and made to listen.
 Whereas on album, Bon Iver's music slowly moves through you, not as much like a haunting as like a familiar shiver, its effect in concert is far more powerful. It was almost theatrical. But not in the Queen sense. More like the
parts of the songs were scenes that these actors were completely
driven by. And these actors were old school in every way. Mostly though, it was that you could sense that there was a real importance to being on that stage. It just felt as though we would look back years from now and wonder how it could be possible that someone like Colin Stetson could be playing second fiddle to anyone. Stetson, one of the most prolific and original saxophone players does things with the instrument that you don't hear from anyone else. Of course, considering that within minutes it became impossible to keep track of the number of instruments that every one of the 9 musicians each played, Stetson's proficiency simply blended into the endless tapestry of sound. Even the two drumsets, overkill in the heaviest metal show, had a part to play in this musical journey. And what a journey it was. The influences shone through and varied from 80's synth pop to 60s R&B.
From Classical to Jazz and from Folk to Country. Mariachi even made fleeting appearances with the greatest of poise. Everything
seamlessly blended into a magically mystical arrangement, the likes of
which hasn't often hit our radios, nevermind a Grammy stage. But nevermind some done-up stage in Hollywood, tonight's stage was a star in its own right. The look of Skinny Love evoked a Greek chorus standing behind Justin, reminding us of the the strength of an old stomp, clap and sing over any production value on earth. In truth, the uniqueness of that voice reminded us of the basic elements that move us. Somehow, over and over, we peeled and layered and peeled and layered but were never drawn too far away from the music in its rawest form.