Sufjan Stevens - Portland 2006
SUFJAN STEVENS
Portland 2006 [no label, 2CD]
Live at the Crystal Ballroom, Portland OR, October 13, 2006.
If Sufjan Stevens’ KEXP show in July 2005 (click here) is considered minimalist, then his show at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon on October 13, 2006 is nothing short of an epic. As Scott D Lewis wrote on the internet, “Backed by at least 15 musicians wearing butterfly wings, Stevens identified himself as their ringleader by wearing a set of large bird wings and commenting, ‘You can call me the majestic songbird,’ a reference to a gorgeous new song Stevens performed later in the show.”
The songs are drawn mainly from Stevens’ Illinois album though tracks from Seven Swans, The Avalanche and Michigan also appear. Onstage, Stevens does cut a commanding presence (Chicago, They Are Night Zombies) though he sometimes comes across both precious and exquisite in his delivery. While Stevens covers a lot of musical territory in his songs, he really calls to mind the lyricism and the hushed tones of Simon & Garfunkel.
Thanks to thir13en Productions, who seamlessly melded the tracks (sourced from soundboard and audience), for sharing the tracks. (In his notes, thir13en Productions also thanked YLTfan for his original sources.)
For those who haven’t caught on to Sufjan Stevens, here is a chance as good as any.
Click here to download the tracks.
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