Big Thief at The Anthem

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. 

It can be hard to live at all, especially right now, but that song and its lyrics have been an anchor in my day-to-day life. It's beautiful that something so fleeting, so imperfect, something that was made by just a couple people in a room, can remind me to find the beauty that sits in front of me every day. 

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.

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