Bon Iver Goes Back To School
Andy Immerman
Before he was racking up kudos from Lykke Li, Lily Allen, and every music critic's year-end list, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon was a member of Eau Claire Memorial High School's jazz band. Last night the folk singer returned to his alma mater to lead present day students in new arrangements of his songs as well as standards like "Since I Fell For You" and "The Lady Is A Tramp." The local paper reports that it's the first Ensemble 1 performance to sell out. (LOL.) And the kids are gonna use last night's proceeds to attend a music competition in NYC. When my high school's most famous alumnus (Michael Crichton) returned for a visit (with Good Morning America!) it was a big deal for everyone. This looks a lot cooler.
Not that Justin's been a stranger. In an early 2008 Stereogum interview about hunting deer, he described life in his hometown, where he had just bought a house and was constructing a recording studio.
"I just bought a house, here, in Eau Claire. But, this is not a city. It is a really large town. I walk to coffee, I walk to the Y to play hoops, I walk to the bar. I eventually will own a house and some land out there in the country, but I couldn't afford it right now. And, this makes sense right now. But, here in north-western Wisconsin, the country is five minutes by car. I'm only 55 minutes from the hunting cabin."
According to the Ledger-Telegram, last night's event was a lovefest, with Justin showering praise upon appreciative students who weren't starstruck because the indie rocker is so humble. Said Junior Leo Strei, a trumpeter:
"It's just been awesome to have him with us. To have someone of international fame like this with us is fantastic. What is really cool is how straightforward he is with us. He talked to us as musicians and never talked down to us; it was just like we had been friends with him for a long time."
This is getting so cute I'm gonna throw up. Let's go to the videotape.
"Lump Sum"
"For Emma"
"Since I Fell For You"
"A Satisfied Mind" (solo encore, audio only)
Your homework is to find me a bootleg of the whole show.
[Thanks Jonk Music for the article link, and Andy Immerman for the photos.]
Posted at 7:24 PM by Scott in Photo, Video
Tags: Bon Iver | Mahalia Jackson
I was never all that into Bon Iver, but this is really fantastic.
There's something wonderful about someone who doesn't up and leave their hometown for Brooklyn when they finish their undergrad degree...
Score = 5
Jazz flute!
Score = 8
Those kids can play! Very good arrangements of the BI tunes. Great job to everyone involved.
Score = 2
No thanks to Jonk Music for sending it to you? Boo!! (Although I suppose many sent it in...)
Score = 1
The only people to come out of my high school were teen mothers and meth dealers.
Geez, where's the justice?
Score = 3
Wish I had gone to school with a Justin Vernon.
Score = 2
This was just an amazing performance. I just wish he could have done more songs. The band was excellent and they did an amazing job playing his music. Good luck in New york.
Score = 0
As if I needed another reason to adore that man. This is the best.
Score = 0
I went to high school with Kelly Clarkson!
Score = 0
he looks hot in his suit!
Score = 1
Nice job on the pictures. Here are some that I took at the concert and Friday's practice: http://blindsquirrelphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/7937077_N2N7y#515069318_gVJ6G.
Mike
Score = 0
Great pictures MIke! I saw them posted at VolumeOne website too. Looks like he had fun!
Score = 1
Thanks Mindy.
Score = 0
Great job on For Emma in particular.
Score = 0
What a brilliant find!
Score = 0
Here is video of Mahalia Jackson's A Satisfied Mind that I put up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT_no5gub0I
Score = 0
saw justin perform "satisfied mind" with deyarmond edison three years ago and it was great. if only deyarmond edison were still together. oh well. i'll take megafaun any day over bon iver. they have a new album coming out soon.
Score = 0
WOW! Absolutley amazing performance! You never hear of rock stars doing this sort of thing... what a guy.
I've been looking around for DeYarmond Edison CD's but cant find any anywhere.
Score = 0