Wordless Music Series: Grizzly Bear
Thanks to the lovely Ms. Ameer, this past Saturday I attended the Wordless Music Series performances by Grizzly Bear and Michael Harrison at the Society for Ethical Culture. The show was, by all accounts, amazing. Set in a renovated church on the Upper West Side, the concert began with a piano set from Harrison, who was absolutely mesmerizing. I was admittedly tired going into the show and worried that the piano would put me to sleep, but his songs had the opposite effect, as his unique harmonic piano style pulsated with energy.
Grizzly Bear then came on to deliver a fantastic set featuring primarily songs from 2006’s Yellow House and the new Friend EP. Ed Droste’s vocals were incredible, even with the high expectations I had going into it. Daniel Rossen also surprised me with his vocal and musical perfection. Christopher Taylor commanded several instruments (bass, woodwinds) with skill, while drummer Christopher Bear drove the songs with enviable ease. The band noted how Saturday’s performance capped off a year and a half of touring, and they clearly ended on a high note.
Check out Stereogum’s rave review for some more details and photos of the show. And check out the below song from the Friend EP:
