Music / Reviews
Review: Vetiver, The Lantern
Vetiver have been one of the finest purveyors of folkish Americana for over a decade now. Based in San Francisco, and counting such luminaries as Devendra Banhart, Vashti Bunyan and Joanna Newsom among their contemporaries and collaborators, their pedigree is second to none. Albums such as To Find Me Gone and Tight Knit are classics of their genre.
Their two most recent releases, The Errant Charm and Complete Strangers have represented something of a departure from the previous template with the introduction of a slightly more effect led production, whilst still complementing the gentle flow of singer Andy Cabic’s husky, whispering vocals.
So which Vetiver were we expecting this evening? The acoustic band from the past, or something a little more slick and shiny?
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Well, neither, really. The band’s sound (a four piece featuring Cabic on vocals and guitar standing to the left of the stage, bassist, lead guitarist and drummer), was firmly rooted at the rockier end of the spectrum.
The audience was maybe sparser than might have been expected, and rather curiously, most remained seated on the floor for the entire performance. Rather than detracting from the vibe, this actually served to enhance the intimacy of occasion, as if the band were playing in our collective living room.
The set featured an even sprinkling of songs from the six album strong back catalogue. One of the most appealing aspects of this performance was the way that Vetiver effortlessly stretch the standard folk / Americana template to incorporate influences as diverse as funk, surf, rock ‘n’ roll, Bossa Nova, Country & Western and even easy listening.
Set openers, Oh Papa and Rolling Sea provided a gentle classic folk introduction to proceedings, but the band really came into their own when they got their groove on, a real rarity for bands from this genre. Current Carry was practically funky in its execution, whilst the chirpy rock ‘n’ roll of Loose Ends got many a seated foot waving around. Shadows Lane was another gem, given a new dimension with its easy groove in the live setting.
The evening’s highlight was You May Be Blue, which morphed into a frenzied five minute jam, with all four members of the band riffing off each other.
By the time the encore came around, there was even a small outbreak of dancing from a pocket of the audience. What the crowd lacked in numbers, they made up with their enthusiastic appreciation throughout.
If there was a downside, it would have been the omission of Red Lantern Girls, Double, and On A Nerve. But overall, it was a highly enjoyable evening in the presence of what felt like a lucky group of friends.
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