Big Thief
The Anthem, DC
Going into this show I thought I knew what I was in for, after all Big Theif’s been around since I was 8. I’ve been familiar with front-woman Adrianne Lenker’s beautiful songwriting. I knew that guitarist Buck Meek would support their louder sections, and accent their quiet ones. It wasn't surprising to me that drummer James Krivchenia was going to lay the strong, simple, and impressive foundation for every song. But at the end of the night it was more than just the performances that stuck with me.
I’ve never quite been as immersed and comforted at a show before. The unique energy that was present that night came in waves, hitting all of us. There was a mixture of laughing, crying, and light moshing that carried Big Thief’s performance all the way to the back of the room. Letting everyone see the scars, blemishes, and humanity in every note they played. As someone who doesn't usually shed a tear at shows, I'll admit I was close to crying multiple times. Whether it was the urgency in Vampire Empire, the impermanence of Incomprehensible, or the topical and emotional crescendos in Beautiful World, I felt what it meant to me, and what it meant to them.
The last song they played was an unreleased song called Beautiful World. Adrianne described it as “feeling right” to play, or something close to that. I've decided she was completely correct. Its mix of indie rhythm guitar and topical, vulnerable, and human lyrics made it eerily reminiscent of early Arcade Fire. In the verses she explores chaos, calm, and impermanence.
During the last verse and chorus, Adrianne belts out this series of words:
Standing there feeling tripped out
And just wanting to cry
And that disconnected sharpness where everything is dry
I hear the ratchet of the call
Two wheels turning in the dirt
An old man on his bicycle, out of nowhere
Soaking through his shirt
He gets down and he comes over and says
“I’m on a long journey. I’m riding my bike clear across the country. I’m 85. My name is Bob. I’m gonna make the Guinness book.”
I said, “It’s nice to meet you, Bob.”
And then I took his hand and shook
It’s a beautiful world
Why must everything be conquered?
But it, it’s so beautiful
And I’m riding to the center of
This fucked-up world
Why must everything be conquered?
But it, it’s so beautiful
And I’m riding to the center of it
I think that moment, standing in the back of The Anthem, standing with my friends, standing with my camera, my brain, my mistakes, standing with the weight of the world–taught me one thing: find the beauty that sits and waits, lurks behind a corner, or is sitting right in front of you on a stage. I think that message, those memories, and that sentiment will stick with me for a long time.