Feist

The intermission between Feist & her opening act, Jason Collett, seemed to take an indeterminable time mentally, although the actual waiting period would only end up being thirty minutes. To pass these anxious moments, I fooled around with the settings on my new digital camera, and Matt checked his phone to see what could be done as far as taking pictures was concerned. People slowly filed into their seats at first, and then with greater pace as the anticipated time of Ms. Feist arrived. I experienced, like I always do, nervous foot and palm sweat, though more amplified than usual because she was my ultimate favorite. 9:10, lights dimmed, screams echoed through the magnificent Mershon Auditorium, and the recently empty stage gave way to what would be a brilliant, dazzling spectacle.

The lovely and immensely talented Leslie Feist took the stage as gracefully as possible, with the aid of a cane. She had donned a black top with classy, black dress pants, which accurately supported her music: elegant, classy, with a slight edge. The poor, sweet Canadian lady later said that she had apparently took a nasty tumble while ambling about a short time ago, and this was, as she mentioned later, went kind of like: “The first time I have been able to be upright to perform in days. I no longer have to be the princess on the throne, pretty feet dangling over the side, supported by my able male cast!”
I had a hearty laugh at that statement, and, aside from her dramatic stage performance musically, she was able to keep the crowd entertained also with the comedic sideshow. I was constantly in awe of her during the entire duration of her performance, and the same was vibrantly echoed by the rest of the rapt collective of fans at the end of each mesmerizing song. Everyone was so in awe of her that even at the slightest hint that she would start singing or plunge into a chord, the place fell to impossible levels of silence. Jaw-dropping, hearts-pounding to the rhythms of Leslie Feist’s music. There is no better way to spend an evening!

Her humor also found its’ place in a couple of other instances which I can remember. Around mid-set, she said that: “If I can translate this magnetic energy to this area next to me and you can see me, you can scream!” I certainly would never mind seeing the ghost of Feist right next to the real one, because there are never too many Leslie Feists’! In another instance, she was making comparisons of the U.S. and Canada, and one was that we both have cows! She is so charming!

Another instance of interesting humor was declared when she said something about cellphones. It sorta went like this: “You will need these to light up the room for the next song. These can’t be taken away from you!” Not like the so-called security would have cared anyways, they were more like lampposts than actual humans. Not even stage guards would be appropriate.

One of the most stirring bits of humor from Feist was when a fan mentioned something along the lines of wanting to be her man. She said something like: “You can be the guy in this next song. It’s a sad love song about people falling out with each other!” Everyone roared with laughter! The poor guy was probably hoping for something positive like: “My Moon, My Man”, or “1,2,3,4”!

Her musical and artistic creative energy knew no bounds. Her guitar play was seamless, and was immensely skillful in approach. Everything that she did had a given purpose; nothing seemed vague or out of place at any given point. I must first discuss the background performances, in other words, what occurred before certain songs, and what ultimately took place in the drama of each song piece. On at least three occasions, Ms. Feist performed shadow puppet routines which were expertly executed and indicative of someone pouring their entire heart and soul into the stage performance. There was absolutely no way you could ever take your eyes off of what she was doing; every delicate intricacy was committed to the framework of the whole movement of song, nothing was to ever be missed.

For starters, there were brilliant flashes of color against the forescreen, in vibrant neon greens, reds, oranges, yellows, and so on and so forth. The flashiness of colors suited her performance of the song quite well, as her rhythm perfectly suited the movement of color behind her.
The song entitled “The Water” featured gradually drawn out images in black outlines of waves, a ship, and eventually the ship sinking to depict a lover lost at sea. The graceful, plaintive tone of her voice was remarkable and in tandem with the image. The particular song is one of only a few sadder love relationships that she has recorded, and is so real that you feel like you’re an intimate part of this story. I felt myself choking up at the scene of the boat plunging below the water; the effect was so real and immediate. I wondered to myself how much effort must’ve been invested in just this one song, one collection of delicate frames slowly sweeping to the song’s conclusion.

One of the greatest lighting techniques occurred for one of the slower songs, in which before the playing began, candlelight appeared by the drum kit, and Feist created images of birds flying against the screen in back of her, establishing the mood for the song.

The vibrant, youthful enthusiasm of her biggest hit “1,2,3,4” was reflected in not only her onstage movement, but the neon greens, blues, reds, and the like that flashed and clung to the screen behind her. In another instance, in a song of great energy, our heroine was momentarily silhouetted against an orange screen, which was very dramatic and was a very clever effect.
Even songs like “How My Heart Behaves”, received vibrant, although subtle, flourishes of electric guitar work that embraced the elegant mood of the song. This song is a very earnest look into how lovers react to certain conditions. Anyone can be mistrusted, anyone can feel alone. And when her voice soared into higher ranges, you could tell this was a song of her honest experiences in the field of love. Her voice is so poignant and powerful in moments like these that she can make anyone swoon. She is relaxing and intoxicating at the same moment.

During the song “Sealion” which is her adaptation of a 1930’s tune, included three male members of her band singing on backing vocals. Her vocals, most notably in the call-and-response parts, were exceptionally powerful where the vocal power needed to be exercised. Some of her biggest notes as a whole occurred during this song, and I was incredibly invigorated by the power in her voice. She is such a naturally great vocalist that she warrants comparison to (add a name of a great female vocalist of all-time) that she would easily garner comparisons to them.

In one of the sweetest moments to ever occur at a concert, Feist obliged a couple that wanted to become engaged at the show by playing a cover of fellow Canadian Sarah Harmer’s “Open Window (The Wedding Song)”. It is a beautiful song that someday I hope may be my wedding song! It is so much more original and realistic than traditional love songs. Afterwards, the whole audience shifted their heads and ears to the balcony, where the proposal took place. Of course, the answer was yes! We roared in our approval at such an amazing moment! Come to think of it, this is perhaps where I’d like to propose to a future wife, at a Feist concert! This particular moment is the first of its’ kind that I’ve ever seen at a concert, and thought that it tied in magnificently with the romantic quality of her music.

I was surprised that she didn’t leave “Mushaboom” and “1234” for the encore, instead cleverly playing them before the encore. The standing ovation between the main set and the encore was thunderous, filled with yells, claps that could be probably heard a mile away, and who-hoos of the loudest and most vibrant. Everyone was on their feet; it was the most rousing standing ovation I have ever experienced anywhere. I was party to it, who-hooing with my most fervent admiration for one of the greatest female entertainers to take the stage in recent times. It was well deserved, and I was just imagining how much Leslie Feist appreciated this.

When she came back out to perform her last two songs, the crowd roared and hollered hoarsely, and then settled in as she began to play. Since I knew the end was near, I fixed my eyes on the Canadian sweetheart as much as I could. I yearned to be closer, but the setting of the show was intimate nonetheless. At last, the songs had ended, and she introduced each member of the band, who all received their own polite applause, and then exited stage right. The applause lingered for a minute afterwards, and then subsided, and the lights were thrown back on. I could now catch my breath, but knew that this was the concert of my life to this point. I would be able to brag for an eternity.

After the show, me and Matt wandered up the stairs and ambled over in the general direction of the merchandise table, where I had previously purchased a music box that plinks out “Mushaboom” in a slow, endearing way, as well as a set of six pins with various images of Feist on it. After about five minutes, we went outside to leave, trundling down the side of the building. Little did we know that this was also the back of the place, and Feist and her bands’ bus was parked there! How utterly convenient for a potential future meeting!

I told Matt that we should wait here to see if she comes out. There were about a dozen other dedicated fans here also, deciding that braving the chilly conditions to see their musical heroine was not only an option, it was a must-do. It was 11:10 then, and the perpetual waiting game began for the tiny legion of loyal Feist fanatics.
From one previous experience, I assumed it would take perhaps 45 minutes, give or take a few, for her to get situated and emerge from the back stage door. Ten…Fifteen…Twenty minutes had past and Feist had still yet to appear. We witnessed the various members of the road crew pushing out all of the stage equipment in black containers with wheels, as well as various band members loading their luggage into compartments below the bus.
It was now midnight, and Leslie had still yet to come out. Then it was 12:15, and still no sign. Still, we knew she had to come out sooner or later. We knew victory over impatience and cold had to be ours, it was just a matter of when. A member of Wexner crew appeared to us and told us he was doing everything under his power to get her to come out, but so far it wasn’t yielding the intended result.

When the clock struck 12:30, Matt lost his nerve, and had to go to Subway to fill his void for food. Minutes after that, the rest of us who were still trembling in the cold were told that we only had single-digit minutes to wait for our sweetheart to appear. It was now 12:37, and then the precious moment occurred before us. There was Ms. Feist! She was going to save the day!

She came out aided by her walking stick, as previously mentioned, wearing a winter coat and pants, hair collected in a ponytail, the first time that I ever saw her hair like this. I was the first to approach her, and pulled the magazine that she was on the cover of out to sign. She amusingly noted that she did not like the picture of herself here, and henceforth scrawled out the most fabulous autograph that I have received to this day: “I hate this magazine(I think she meant picture), xo L.Feist. Later, she said: “I’m sorry that I defaced your magazine”. I said: “Well, you can do that because you’re the coolest person in the world; no one else could get away with this”. I think she just smiled sweetly at this notion. I was to chuckle deliriously at the signature when I saw it later! Funny darling she is!

I also noticed that, although she was not willing to do pictures, she most kindly and thoughtfully permitted hugs for all of us. When it came my turn to ask, I was slightly nervous, but composed, and she agreed. The next five seconds, locked in a delicate hug with the sweetest lady I’ve ever known, seemed timeless to me. I’d been a fan of hers for three years, and this was incredible. Getting a hug from Leslie Feist! Wow, wow, wow, unbelievable! I really will never forget this moment!

Later, I received an autograph on the cover of “The Reminder” CD jacket, with “For Roger” printed between the lettering “The Reminder” and “By Feist”, making it seem like she dedicated this album to me! Oh, how I can wish! “L.Feist was scribbled below legibly. I also asked her if she liked this picture better, she giggled lightly, smiled and said yes as she signed it.

She signed a couple more autographs and talked with those remaining, and I also had the privilege of shaking her hand, declaring my everlasting thank yous’ to her and heading with Matt into the cold towards the hotel. I thought afterwards that I wanted to mock propose to her, but had lack of courage to do so. I will be a fan of hers for eternity. She has won another true fan forever!