7 Reasons Why You MUST See the Fleet Foxes Play Live

Fleet Foxes He Doesn’t Know Why from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

I saw the Fleet Foxes at The Bottle Tree Cafe in Birmingham, AL (a venue that visiting bands regularly declare as the best bar in the nation, by the way). The Bottle Tree is a great bar filled with great people and perhaps even greater bands, like the Fleet Foxes. This is why you should NOT miss out on seeing the Fleet Foxes play when they come to your local not-as-amazing-as-Bottle-Tree-but-probably-still-quite-nice venue.

1. They’re called the Fleet Foxes!

If they didn’t mention animals in their band name, album names, song titles, or lyrics, I wouldn’t be able to feature them on Kitty Mowmow’s Animal Expo.  Besides, foxes are cute, vicious little buggers – cunning survivors at heart. The fox’s status as the last remaining wild canid of the British Isles makes it more than worthy of having a band named after it.

2. Glorious harmonies remind me of a cross between My Morning Jacket and The Beach Boys.

That’s not the only good thing about their music, but since my eyes generally glaze over when I read music reviews, I’m going to suggest that you listen to the Fleet Foxes’ on Myspace and see for yourself.

3. They’re even better live than on the album.

The Fleet Foxes are so good live, that I almost couldn’t listen to them on my iPod today.  I honestly felt the faintest twinge of that emotion you get when you listen to a song that was “your song” years ago when you were still in love with that guy (or girl, whatever your history).  The song might still be good, but it was so much more beautiful and stirring back when it symbolized your love, and now its deeper meaning is gone.  In a less dramatic way, the Fleet Foxes’ recorded album seems to fade in comparison with the passion and communion they bring to their live performances.

4. Frank Fairfield opened for them.

Listening to Frank Fairfield made me feel like I was back at home, hanging out with my dad and listening to his collection of bluegrass and folk music that seems to date all the way back to the dawn of recording technology. Actually, the time warp was greater than that – I felt like I was watching one of my dad’s favorite old folk artists playing live, not just listening to them post mortem on a cold, metallic disc.  Even Frank’s clothing and hairstyle hearkens to an era that, were it not for our economic troubles, would be far from our memories.

I spoke with Frank after the show and found out that he developed his style by listening to the same records my dad played for me.  I also discovered he used to be a busker, playing his fiddle, banjo, and guitar on the street for change.  Part of me hopes he won’t give up busking, because few things give me the same serendipitous joy as hearing an earnest musician play while I go about my daily routine, but I would also like to see Frank continue to tour and share his music with as many people as possible.

5. Rugged good looks.

During a break between songs the Fleet Foxes referred to themselves as “hairy Sasquatches,” but I think they are nice-looking, down-to-earth guys from Washington state who generally don’t care to shave.  Also, it could have been the stage lights, but at a few points in show, the clean-shaven bass guitarist’s eyes glowed so blue that he reminded me of a character from Frank Herbert’s “Dune” (sorry, SUPER nerdy reference there, but that’s really what it seemed like to me).

6. Goats roam through their music video

Goats!  In a music video!  Hooooooorrrrrrrrraaaaaaayyyyyyyy GOATS!  (I like goats.)

7. They haven’t sued me (yet).

I used one of their songs, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, in my first podcast. I told them about it today and asked their permission to use more of their music in more podcasts.  I know, smooth, right?

So, do YOU love the Fleet Foxes?  Do you disagree with my love?  Do you know of another animal-related musical act or album or song that we all need to know about?  Let me know!

-MJ Schindler, aka Kitty Mowmow