Show Review: Bon Iver At The Mann Center, Philadelphia

Sunday evening was the most beautiful type of night. Dusk brought with it a chill in the air, but just the right amount of it – that no-longer-summer-but-not-quite-fall evening when you can wear jeans and a hoodie and be perfectly comfortable. And what better way to spend such a night than outside listening to beautiful music? Justin Vernon and his band, who make up Bon Iver, took the stage at Philadelphia’s Mann Center last night for an evening of songs from the recent self-titled album, as well as the acclaimed debut For Emma, Forever Ago and the EP Blood Bank. The Mann Center is one of the city’s most beautiful venues to see a show. Nestled among trees in the city’s Fairmount Park, driving there at night takes you on dark winding roads that suddenly open up to the venue, lit by twinkling bulb lights and set on a hill that provides stunning views of the city skyline.

Bon Iver took the stage at 9pm, and the venue became completely still with silence as he filled the darkness with the song “Woods” off of the EP Blood Bank. The opener was followed by “Perth” and “Minnesota, WI” off of Bon Iver and I was amazed by how big and anthemic these songs sounded with the addition of the live band. They took on a whole new life with the full band that was a really pleasant surprise. One of my favorite moments came five songs in when they played the opener from For Emma, Forever Ago, “Flume,” a favorite of mine. The entire show was amazing though and I will definitely be making another trip to the Mann Center in the near future – it is such a beautiful way to spend an evening! Check out their upcoming shows here.

Bon Iver will play a series of shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City this week/weekend before heading over to Europe – check out their tour dates here.

Setlist: Woods/Perth/Minnesota, WI/Towers/Flume/Hinnom, TX/Wash/Halocene/Blood Bank/Skinny Love/Creature Fear/Calgary/Lisbon, OH/Beth/Rest; Encore: The Wolves (Act I & II)/For Emma