Grizzly Bear, Electric Arena, Friday
For the most part, this evening's show was an introduction to Grizzly Bear's new album, Shields.
For many in the audience, a festival show is probably not the best place to showcase new songs and the crowd's loud cheers at songs from 2009's Veckatimest and other older material is a firm indication that many are of this opinion. But it's Grizzly Bear's party, and they'll play new songs if they want to.
Those tracks, like Fine For Now, are much richer, more textured and far more complex than what we've heard before from Ed Droste and friends. Perhaps it's unfamiliarity, but there's a distinct lack of engagement here as if the band themselves are still working out what goes where.
It's when the band delve into the pastoral psych-folk and baroque tunes in their back-catalogue that the show really catches fire. Perhaps it will be a different story the next time the band come this way.
Verdict: ***
