If there’s one thing it’s for certain: Bon Iver is one of the most exciting musical acts of the present decade.  Led by Justin Vernon, they have released one of the years most endearing and heartfelt albums.  There’s no doubt that it was a different release from his prior work with Emma, but their live performance did an outstanding job of bringing the new album to life.  Kathleen Edwards did a stand up job opening for Bon Iver both nights and herself could be considered a female equal to that of Justin Vernon.  Regardless if you went the first night or the second, Justin and the rest of his band helped solidify their place in indie music history with their unabashed, engrossing live performance. 

While For Emma, Forever Ago was produced mostly in a cabin by Vernon himself, the new album is entirely opposite.  It features electric guitars in place of his signature acoustic strumming and plenty brass and drums to go around.  Any Bon Iver fan at one of the two shows will agree with this statement: to hear Bon Iver, Bon Iver through your car speaker or headphones is one thing, but to hear the songs performed live is an entirely different thing.  Vernon assembled a nine member band (including himself) to perform these sets at the legendary Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.  Songs like “Perth”, “Calgary” and “Holocene” came to life with the added elements of two drums sets, violins and a plethora of finger cymbals.  Ending the set with “The Wolves (Act I & II) left everyone singing its trademark line “what might have been lost” for minutes of dissonant noise while the band simple jammed on their instruments into a swell of cheers.  The encore, while only three songs was simply the most moving three songs of the night.  Closing with “Beth/Rest, “Flume” and “Skinny Love” was the best choice they could have made (aside from playing every song Vernon’s ever recorded.  The rendition of “Skinny Love” was no doubt the fan favorite for the night.  Vernon came to the stage with a steel guitar in hand, while his band mates left their instruments, stood behind him and supplied old fashioned organic sounds to bring the song full circle.  Feet stomping, clapping and the crowd crooning along: this was the best five minutes of the show.

Bon Iver performances are special because it’s more than an ordinary concert; it’s an experience.  The front man doesn’t just sit down on a stool with a guitar and strum along to every single chord and note as you’d expect him to, they improvise, play covers and surprise you enough where you feel you cheated them by not paying more for the ticket.  The live sound of the band, the lights and the huge amalgamation of instruments turn Bon Iver’s music from a lost soul crooning in pain to a experience that brings together fans for an unforgettable time.