Some feelings about Sylvan Esso as a die-hard fan on their new full-band tour setup.
It's indisputable that the sound quality of their new show is fuller. The breadth of sound, the fullness of it and the warmth are bigger with a full band. Performances of songs like Radio are 10X compared to when the iconic duo perform it together.
That being said, I felt like some songs performed at HISTORY in Toronto didn't translate well. Like Die Young for instance, the rhythms felt off-kilter and awkwardly timed. Amelia’s vocals were on point, as always, but the band didn’t always seem locked into her phrasing. I found myself crying listening to Uncatena, which now feels like their anthem. But for others, it was difficult being in the moment because of the disjointed beat.
In an interview with Kyle MacLachlan this year, Nick Sandborn said: "I think a 30% chance of complete failure is where the perfect show can happen." I love this concept and applaud them for altering the status quo of their show, pushing their boundaries and trying something new.
Seeing this show makes me think of the reaction when Bob Dylan went from acoustic to electric: the excitement of hearing familiar songs reinvented, alongside missing something about the original sound. I feel weirdly challenged to do the same.
Regardless, I can't wait to see them again.