Feist

Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 20

Photo: Levi Manchak

BY Levi ManchakPublished Jul 21, 2018

8
Feist's ability to make her festival appearance feel as intimate as a friend playing guitar in the middle of a party was stunning. Her set began with a jittery presence that belied her venerable headliner status, but as she traversed a dynamic mix of songs from her entire catalogue, every nervy note completely captivated the crowd.
 
Her radiant charm evaporated any imaginary wall between her and festival goers when she described her uniquely Edmonton experience earlier in the day; she'd gone canoeing on the North Saskatchewan river upon arriving to the city, but was caught in a prairie deluge and had to hide under a bridge until it passed.
 
She drew the crowd in closer by conducting the entire audience to sing backup for several songs, while leading with her vocal virtuosity. "Mushaboom" and a vaguely clumsy "Gatekeeper," from her breakthrough 2004 album, Let It Die, made late appearances in the set, balancing out less ubiquitous songs from last year's Pleasure.
 
Throughout the performance, Feist didn't hide behind a faux vulnerable façade. Instead she leaned into it with both shoulders, virtually shrinking the large festival ground to make it feel like a small room, and profoundly endearing herself to everyone singing along in the collective chorus.

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