I'm sorry, but I don't remember what song Feist opened or closed with on June 22 at the Boulder Theater. I don't recall exactly when the random gal from the audience joined her onstage, when the tap dancer graced the room or if she was backed by a four- or five-person band of boys.
But I do know this:
Leslie Feist
rocks. She is the reason I am at a loss for the surrounding details that any normal review would entail.
After repeatedly playing her latest solo album
The Reminder
in my car nonstop for the past few weeks, I would have expected Feist's onstage persona to be, well, not-so-feisty. While I had no doubts that she would paint the room with beauty and inspiration, I was expecting her to be fragile and maybe even sitting on a chair for the entirety of her performance. And I was definitely thinking that "Feisty Feist" wouldn't be the best title for her and that if I was going to make any mental notes during the show for this review, it was going to be a title that fit her.
Well, talk about misconceptions and making an a$$ out of myself for even thinking otherwise. She amazed me to the point that I paid no attention to anything but her. You've got to give a gal props for stealing the show when she's surrounded by incredibly talented musicians who are pretty much twice her size. And pretty hot, from what I recall from those few seconds I took my eyes off her.
Go ahead and gag yourself before I say this, but she really does have the voice of an angel. Never before has someone's voice tricked me as hers does. It swoops, curves, cracks, flutters and sneaks under my skin. Although she may trick you into thinking that her voice will be swallowed by her sometimes smoky, whispering sound, she'll belt and push that melody with absolute perfect projection. Not too much, not too little, but flawless. Simply flawless.
You'll know what I'm talking about when you go to:
You'll also learn some interesting history on this gal by visiting:
I'm quite jealous of one particular bit of her background. She once lived with the "electroclash rap vixen" Peaches. If you don't know Peaches, allow me to introduce you. In a past interview with
BUST, she said the following:
"I wanna have a kick a$$ band. And I want every girl to go home with two guys if they want to. And I want two guys to impress the girl by making out in front of her. And I want straight guys to stop thinking that anything they do for a girl makes them look like they're gay."
In response to whether she has a message or a mission, she said:
"I'm just trying to keep it real. I want everybody to dance ... and shake their dicks. And I'm not saying the girls have to sit back, they can both do it. People say, 'Come on, just let the men be the men and the women be the women.' And I'm like, 'Let a woman be a man, and let a man do the cancan.'"
Ah, now you know Peaches. If I ever land that interview that I'm pushing to get with Feist, you better bet your shiny hiney that I'll be diggin up some dirt on what it was like living AND performing with that no-shame, riled up, firey woman known as Peaches.
And speaking of riled up, Feist can rock. I didn't even know she played guitar. Although the instrument seems a little large for her to handle, she strums those strings and shakes that hair in a way that strictly proves her punk beginnings. Is there anything she can't do? I have yet to find out.
To add a little icing to my ill-preparedness and occasional slackerdom, there would have been amazing pics posted with this review, but my friend so conveniently lost the CD that she loaded 'em on to. Grand. Fabulous. Fantastic. She's working toward a career in photography (aside from her many other aspirations), so I gave her the job of snappin' some shots of the show. Hmm ... so if any of you Boulderites come across a CD filled with digital prints of Vancouver, Seattle, Victoria, Boulder and the incredible Feist show, pleeease share the wealth. She may not be the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to remembering to grab her belongings, but boy, there was a reason I made her take those pictures. She's got the eye for it.
... And according to her, I have an ear for good music. So take it from her and listen to me when I say Feist is my new favorite.