Review of Sufjan Stevens

So Ian invited me to Pearl St. last night to check out this new hotshot Christian indie-rocker named Sufjan Stevens. I have to say that I haven't heard anything like him, in the same way that I had never heard anything like Frank Zappa or They Might Be Giants. The 8-piece band came out in cheerleader gear representing Illinois (the state Sufjan is currently focused on for his tour - he plans to write an album for every state in the US). The band was very warm and friendly, incredibly in sync with one another. The cheers were awesome too - one for each major city/town - and hilarious at times. The atmosphere was very good-natured, and Sufjan didn't take anything too seriously. They messed up once in a while - the trumpet player started playing and the whole song stopped because Sufjan had put his capo half a step to high on his guitar. They just laughed it off. For everything they were trying to accomplish, one could only be accomodating to this group. And at the end they thanked the audience for it. The lyrics were hefty, and even when I didn't understand them I was just listening to the interesting phonical combinations. Definitely an Aaron Blodgett band.

As for Pearl St. Ballroom, it's not my cup of tea. I don't enjoy standing for that long a period of time, and would've much rather enjoyed them at Iron Horse. Perhaps next time. Thanks to Ian and Colleen and Jerod Weinman for a wonderful night out!