In a year that has featured some brilliant and at times sublime live music I think Friday night might have topped everything. I witnessed a band in perfect harmony (and perfect harmonies). A band so in the moment that it was scary. A band that has released three albums in a throw of such impeccable detail and beauty that it was almost a spiritual performance to see them performed live. Ladies and gentlemen I give you the church of Grizzly Bear. Quite simply, sublime.

This band of Brooklynites came to the Metro Theatre Friday night and spellbound a delirious audience for over 100 minutes. They connect like few bands can. Their melodies are faultless, songs rising and falling with ultimate ease and delicacy. Harmonies flourish and flower, washing over us and nestling in our hearts. Ed Droste's voice is angelic and smooth, Daniel Rossen's voice is warm and human and aching. Full of melancholy and regret and solitude. His guitar is glowing and rapturous. Chris Bear provides intuitive drumming and Chris Taylor does basically everything else. Filling the gaps with clarinet and saxophone and guitar. It's a heady mix, striking and emotional punch. I found myself several times just closing my eyes and letting the sounds invade me. Floating to the ceiling on a cushion of grace and beauty. It would almost redundant to list the songs and speak about them. Although I will say that "Sleeping Ute" was beyond perfection and "I Live With You" was searing and soaring "Sun In Your Eyes" was ecstatic and euphonious. But oh the encore, the encore. It was great enough to receive two older classics from "Yellow House" but when the band set up for an acoustic version of "All We Ask" I trembled with excitement. It delivered and how, the band making a statement. That being, there might not be a finer band right now on the planet then Grizzly Bear.

Set List
Speak In Rounds
Adelma
Sleeping Ute
Cheerleader
Lullabye
Yet Again
Shift
A Simple Answer
Gun Shy
Ready, Able
I Live With You
Foreground
While You Wait For The Others
What's Wrong
Two Weeks
Half Gate
Sun In Your Eyes

Knife
On A Neck, On A Spit
All We Ask (acoustic)