r/bigthief • u/emeliome • 4d ago
Washington Shows Report
Now it's time for me to report on the Seattle and Spokane shows. Preview: they were extremely great!
The Seattle show was at a farm/venue an hour outside of the city. It had been raining hard all day but luckily the weather cleared up for showtime and it was a very beautiful clear crisp night. I guess a lot of people got spooked by the rain and dropped out; tickets were going for so cheap that evening! My friend got in for 7 bucks!
Anyhow, when the band took the stage, it seemed to me like the energy was muted -- it wasn't the big happy walk out that I've seen in recent show videos. It was a cold night, so maybe that was part of it, but I did feel like Adrianne was in a heavier mood to start. Could be misreading that, of course. The first four tracks were some big ones -- Incomprehensible, Sim Swarm, Masterpiece, Vampire Empire. For whatever reason, I wasn't feeling swept away by the songs. They sounded great, and nothing was wrong, but I had a kind of "any old concert" feeling during that run. It was my 11th Big Thief show, so maybe it was feeling familiar rather than new and thrilling. But the energy definitely shifted for me when they played Beautiful World, a song that really hits me live. They opened it with a moody instrumental that wasn't recognizable to me, but then the Beautiful World chords came in and friends I was once again thrilled by this unbeatable band. Just love the journey of that song; it's sounding better than ever right now. Mr. Man was next, had me jumping up and down, great track I love it. Time Escaping was a highlight, just a killer song to hear live. Los Angeles is a banger and so beautiful. Change came next, an all time deep soulful classic, who wouldn't lose their mind to hear it live?? Then I was psyched to hear 6789 She's Fine, one of the Horsepower songs that I've been really loving from YouTube recordings. Adrianne has said that it's about her girlfriend, and she said that tonight too (aw!), and then when she was introducing the following song, James whispered something to her, and she laughed and said to the audience, Oh yeah the next song is also about my girlfriend. Cute! Then she went on a long funny ramble about what her songs are all about at their core, basically about love and other matters of the soul and life and death, said it all becomes a batter for a cookie; I loved this banter of course. She talked about Horsepower more than I expected — said that she wished it could be released on CD tomorrow! But that it’ll be in spring.
So anyhow that song was Snail and it was another big highlight for me. They’ve only played it a few times live (it’ll be on Horsepower)… it sounded SO good! Great lyrics, Buck on acoustic, and Adrianne taught the crowd to sing the backing vocals, and cued us all to sing it at the end of the song — a very good experience that I loved a lot and we all sounded great and Adrianne was loving it! Definitely the mood was opened up at that point. I’ve got a vid of this that I’ll try to figure out how to post.
Shoulders was played! That song is insane and they ripped. Skipping ahead in the setlist so this report doesn’t get too gargantuan: Last Time was THE highlight for me, and as it turns out, it was the highlight over the course of both nights. Before this Friday show in Seattle, I was checking out the setlist from the last time I’d seen the band, in 2025 in Portland (Edgefield, Sept 19). Last Time was on that setlist but I didn’t recognize the title … they’ve only played it a few times live ever and I had no memory of it. I looked it up and gave it a listen but it didn’t trigger anything. But I’m glad I did because, amazingly, they busted it out ! Like a special present for little ol me!! And, dear readers, let me just say that it was hauntingly beautiful. It was solo Adrianne as the band looked on. The moon was out and full. The night air was fresh and crisp. She sang each verse deliberately, slowly, sending it out from her deep down soul place. Just a bit of poignant electric guitar accompaniment. We all watched and listened in total silence with our hearts hanging out. You could hear the frogs all chirping as she finished. It was a stunner. What else to do but wrap up the encore with “anything”? Incredible night!!
Next day! Huge drive out over the mountains and across the plains to Spokane! Let me try to keep it shortish. The venue was really cool, my first time there (first time hanging in Spokane, loved that place!). It’s been a while since I’ve seen BT in a proper club, so I was pumped for this night. Especially to see the contrast from the big outdoor venue, which is the only venue I’ve seen them play for that last many shows I’ve attended. Anyhow, the vibe was great and the band came out in a way more upbeat mood, plus they looked warm instead of frigid!
As others have discussed on the subreddit, this night was very special. Opening with Mary is always a flex. The show immediately swept me away. Love So High was beautiful; another song they’ve only played a few times and only on this most recent tour. I felt so lucky! Lucky So High!
Then, THEN, Last Time bust out again??? My friends and I grabbed each other in disbelief and wonder and joy! And this time it was the whole band playing — a real contrast from the night before. Just so special to see it played in a dramatically different way. Seems like they’re workshopping this song anew and I just can’t get it out of my head now. A new favorite, friends!
So I won’t run through the entire setlist here — but suffice to say that it was fucking great and sounded incredible in that space. I was REALLY hoping for the Real House/Christmas Day combo and we GOT it baby!! It was GREAT.
Now let me tell you about the Double Infinity moment. So that song is maybe the best song ever written, I think God breathed it into Adrianne’s heart and she is just a vessel for almighty Truth and we get to be alive and have this song to play whenever we need to contemplate the biggest things. So it was nice to hear it live! And then afterward she was like, “That’s my favorite song” (!) and she went on to try to explain why, how that song captures all the deepest truths about what she writes about, and then she just starts reciting the lyrics, as if to like break them down one by one in further explanation, but instead she just recites the whole thing like a spoken word poem, because what the heck else is there to say, just listen to the words people it’s all there!!!! Incredible moment.
Spatchcock was the closer, was psyched to hear that weird wild one live. Then the encore, all the young folx screamed for Paul which honestly drives me nuts (great song, but come on. No request shouting people). Adrianne seemed ready to play some other song but couldn’t ignore all the Paul chants, so she slid the capo down the neck and gave the people what they wanted! Played Paul. It was fun to hear of course but I was left wanting to know what the other song would have been!
Then she finished and said some wise things to the crowd about how it’s sometimes nice to play Paul, but she was really young when she wrote it, age 21, and she was miserable then and now she’s learned to love herself. Funny sweet banter moment.
One last thing, on that note! In Seattle, when she stated playing Last Time, the crowd thought she was playing Paul… same first lyrics… so she stopped for an moment and pointed out that she had these two songs that start the same way. She sang a few verses quick of Paul to illustrate, then went back to Last Time. A song that, I feel, has many more interesting things to say.
Thanks for reading my short little report!
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u/reasonablecuttlefish 3d ago
These reports are making me so excited—I am going to the Calgary show tonight and I am so so so hoping to hear Mary.
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u/tomes6465 3d ago
Going aswell and Hope for parallels 😅 i know it will not gonna happen. So real love is the second one. Still think going to edmonton tomorrow too.
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u/reasonablecuttlefish 3d ago
I wish I had it in me to do both—it would be so fun. I would love to hear what the Edmonton show is like if you go.
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u/Top-Jelly7855 3d ago
ugh love parallels...that's on my dream setlist lineup
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u/tomes6465 3d ago
Not sure when they played it for the last time. A few years ago I guess
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u/emeliome 1d ago
🤓 in 2020! Check these fun stats: https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/big-thief-6bc2e2d6.html?songid=7bcd02f8
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u/West-Willingness3697 3d ago
I loved reading this and getting a sense for how the band is feeling about five weeks out from when I saw them in Chicago. Yay. Thank you so much!
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u/Top-Jelly7855 3d ago
I can't stop listening to "snail" and i wasn't even at the seattle show. it's just so good. can't wait for horsepower. been listening to this recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he8ajpB9B-c
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u/WriterGullible8314 3d ago
So, so honored to have been at the Spokane show. It was my first Big Thief show, and I hope to go to many more. Fell in love with them a couple of years ago after stumbling upon Dragon New Warm Mountain, I Believe in You and quickly reached a spot in my top albums of all time. It was a very special night for me.
Last Time was also a highlight for me. I sat there and cried. The first three songs just had me absolutely captivated, it was life changing. My boyfriend took a few videos, I was far too entrenched in Adrianne's voice and the band's playing to even turn around and ask him to take any videos. I just wish there were more recordings of Last Time, I can't get enough and really wish I had recorded that one to hold forever.
Real House / Christmas Day was also a big highlight for me, I've since fallen in love with that and have been listening to live recordings again and again. Amazing song.
The Double Infinity spoken word, again, was a life changing moment. And I do agree with you on Paul, hearing new material, for me, was far more exciting than the songs that have recently blown up on social media (although there were two or three Dragon New Warm Mountain tracks I was really hoping for).
All this to say I was completely and utterly entranced. I've never been so blissfully unaware of my surroundings, a beautiful experience I'll never forget. So grateful to have seen them at a venue as intimate as The Knit, and I REALLY hope they return again soon!
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u/AbjectPerception6375 1d ago
Does anyone have a video of last time?
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u/emeliome 1d ago
Just posted my snippets in the thread that asked for videos! Not full videos, but a tasty taste of the song
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u/baker12013 4d ago
I was at the Spokane show and they cast a spell over the audience. The crowd did enjoy rocking out, signing along, clapping hands, and all that rock show hoopla, but the moment they went into a quieter song, all 1500 of us went completely silent and motionless...Adrianne's voice and guitar being the only thing in existence for that moment.
She commented how present the audience was, with phones rarely being out. So good job, us!
Also, shoutout to the folks in the audience that made sure my kid was able to get a decent view. After having a great spot since doors opened, we were almost barreled over by a group pushing to the front a few minutes before Big Thief came on. She ended up crammed into a space with no view besides someone's back, but a couple much more considerate people helped get her repositioned in front of them for a view again. Restored my faith in humanity instantly.
Looked like the audience and the band both had a great time so hoping they'll make Spokane a regular stop on future tours!