My sweetie and I saw Sufjan Stevens and his band The Illinoismakers perform at the Metro in Chicago last night, and I don't exaggerate in the least when I say it was one of the absolute best shows I've seen this year...and I've seen a few good shows so far in 2005.

The show was 100% comprised of songs from his "Illinois" album, which brought about quite the warm fuzzy vibe, as he was an artist singing songs about Illinois to an audience of people living in Illinois. This happy vibe was helped along by Stevens and his band dressing up in cheerleader outfits, performing cheers between songs, and performing a human pyramid before their last song.

As if stumbling across an indie rock pep rally wasn't enough, Stevens and his eight-piece band are amazing musicians who play some atypical instruments - recorder, trumpet, trombone, triangle, xylophone...heck, I was impressed when I saw them wheel out a good old fashioned piano before the set. What's even better is, they all knew what they were doing. They played their hearts out, and the fact that they were having a great time doing it was not lost on the audience (one girl in the audience even passed out and was carried off during a song about John Wayne Gacy - talk about surreal).

The main attraction of the show for me was the vocal talent - the band has amazing harmony, and Sufjan Steven's voice sent chills through me. He has a quiet economy to his vocals that is missing from most popular music today, and it's something that has to be experienced to be believed. The man can sing. His voice is quiet and simple, but as such, his delivery is more powerful than all the rock'n'roll caterwauling in the world. Wow.

I can't wait until he rolls into town again. I'll be there. I was surprised at all the kids outside the venue before the show begging for extra tickets...now I know why.

If Sufjan Stevens comes to your town, go. You'll be glad you did. I'm impressed.

the show was fantasic, wasn't it!

he was a lot of fun and for someone who is uneasy performing in front of large crowds, he pulls it off smashingly! he did a few cases of the nervous giggles but he played it off well.

i would have enjoyed a few more songs from 7 swans but the show was absolutely flawless as it was. i'm looking forward to catching him again sometime!

i'm sorry--this show was so good i wanted to say it again!

He isn't coming here.

Anxiety said:

Did he do a theme? When I saw him it was spirit week, so they all had pirate accessories with their school outfits. Sufjan as bookish pirate. Yum.
[Edited 9/18/05 22:29pm]

GangstaFam said:

do you have the illinois album yet? if not, you need to get it. he also has an album about michigan.