Final Fantasy @ Schuba's (Chicago): Seize The Opportunity

*Many thanks to our fabulous guest blogger, Driouxcipher, for the recap of last week's (seemingly amazing) show. Download a FF MP3 at bottom of post.

The ever-adorable Final Fantasy (with his cryptic overhead projector chick, Stephanie Comulang) played an astonishing set Friday night (10.12) at Schuba's in Chicago. Roughly the size of Mercury Lounge with the layout of the Bowery, it had both an intimate vibe & a slightly church-y feel that complemented the music beautifully. Adding a Yamaha CP-70 vintage electric piano on-stage (& running it through the loop pedals with his trusty violin) lended the evening a striking accessory, imbuing many familiar favorites w/ surprising new tone colors ('CN Tower' being a stand-out). In the middle of the set, Owen sat at the piano & played 2 or 3 beautiful songs that he said he hadn't played live before (frankly, I had never heard any of them). Needless to say, his florid, pristine piano playing proved to be a stunning bonus for the already enthusiastic crowd. The majority of the evening consisted of his usual "greatest hits," but the sound in the room, his voice, & especially, his playing, were all exemplary. I've never heard him sound better! Also, his encore performance of 'Peach Plum Pear' should cause Ms. Newsom to just stop performing it ever again. Breathtaking!

His opening act, Basia Bulat with her band, read like a cross between Feist and The Dixie Chicks. The Toronto-native, enjoying her first trip to The States, was quite good, as were her musicians, but the songs were immediately unmemorable. About the first opening act, another one-guy-with-a-loop-pedal act called "Nifty," the less said the better. I believe my concluding opinion on him was that it was roughly 4 minutes of interesting squeezed into a half-hour of terrible. Owen, however, has never been better, and fans everywhere should vigorously seize the opportunity to catch his solo act.

Setlist: He Poos Clouds. Many Lives For 49 MP. Butcher(?). Cliquot(?). Horsetail(?). I'm Afraid Of Japan. Hey, Dad. The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead. This Is The Dream Of Win & Regine. Took You Two Years To Win My Heart. This Lamb Sells Condos... Peach Plum Pear (Joanna Newsom cover)

Photo courtesy of Kirstiecat.

MP3: Final Fantasy - Took You Two Years To Win My Heart