bjork.com : gigOgraphy

Info

Setlist

Date:	2007-09-11
Country:	USA
City:	Detroit, MI
Venue:	Fox Theatre
Other:	Opening act M.I.A.

01. Intro - Brennið Þið Vitar
02. Innocence
03. Hunter
04. Pagan Poetry
05. Immature
06. Hidden Place
07. Jóga
08. The Pleasure Is All Mine
09. Desired Constellation
10. Earth Intruders
11. Army Of Me
12. Five Years
13. I Miss You
14. Cover Me
15. Wanderlust
16. Hyperballad
17. Pluto

encore
18. Anchor Song
19. Declare Independence

Pictures (email) Observe that there usually is a NO camera policy at these concerts.

Reviews

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http://detour-mag.com/assets/2007/09/14/live-bjork/#more-1749

FOX THEATRE, DETROIT - 9/11/07

It didn’t look that out of the ordinary. There weren’t druids or woolly mammoths lurking in the shadows or anything like that. A bank of keys to one side, an ordinary workstation of laptops and other blinking electronics on the other, and what looked to be a conventional DJ rig in the center. Flags in the shape of inverted isosceles triangles were draped across the back of the stage; they fluttered as three bookish fellows appeared and took their places at their instruments. They began to generate a low noise somewhere between a bass groove and the murmur of software coming to life. And then, of course, ten Icelandic women in robes made their procession onto the stage, the blacklights glinting off their brass instruments. Pennants were affixed to poles rising from the backs of their robes. Bjork hadn’t even emerged from the shadows yet, and the show was already something un-placeable in time, a chorus of serene horn players meeting the unpredictable fringe of future technology. The sound? It was as if microphones were picking up the sonar doodles of nocturnal animals.

Bjork appeared then, a tiny dynamo of bunched gold fabric and dark swatches of hair framing a face from a fairy tale, and she started singing in a voice that ranged from a harsh whisper to sweeping, roaring notes as wide as the North Atlantic. The whole mess of analog, digital, and singular human voice (except for when the ten horn players chimed in as a backup choir) became songs — “Hunter,” a crystalline “Pagan Poetry” from 2001’s Vespertine, “Hidden Place,” “Joga” — and though they were recognizable, most of them were reworked in part or whole. That her songs are so malleable, and that she glued them together so confidently with that huge voice was the most charming thing about the show, beyond the nervous little dances she’d break into during instrumental sections.

Even up close, it still isn’t clear whether or not Bjork is from the present, future, or some alternate past where animism inhabits not only humans and the lower kingdoms, but electronics and instruments, too. She was taming those songs on the stage, and rearing them with her voice and sure hand. It was simultaneously weird and fascinating, particularly when one of her more well-known songs became something wild and new. The rattling, militaristic shuffle of “Army of Me” was reborn as an electronic rant with industrial overtones, while “I Miss You” seemed even more personal wrapped up as it was in pillowy layers of keyboard, horns, and unrecognizable blips. And Bjork kept everything on track throughout with that gigantic voice and the classiest hints of audience interaction, which elicited screams of pleasure every time. Did the kids up front dressed up in garish gold and streaks of makeup get tipped off on their heroine’s ensemble? Maybe Bjork really does travel through time, and she left Post-It notes in the past for each of them full of tips on mimicking her tour outfits. “Don’t have any gold taffeta? Use aluminum foil!”

Wherever her ideas and motivation come from, it’s clear from her live show that no one’s working on Bjork’s level except for Bjork. Maybe Timbaland — he did produce parts of Volta, her newest album — but from the looks of him on the Video Music Awards, Tim’s too busy benchpressing three or four honeys at a time to be bothered traveling through time and space with this dynamo from Iceland.

Words: Johnny Loftus // Pics: Erika Rich

/detour-mag.com - 3342

As I have to say about any Bjork show I've seen, ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING!!!
This was the closest I have been at one of her concerts (Pit 5th row 6 seats left of center) and it almost felt like a completely different experience. I also saw her in Chicago earlier this year and must agree that this was the better of the two. She seemed so much more "into it" for this one and I could tell that she was having a great time.
The set list was great as well (the Hypreballad/Pluto part just purely intense). Though I would still like to see a bit more off of Medulla (Who is It, maybe), but I'm sure she has her reasons. I was happy to hear "Desired Constellation" though, and nearly floored to hear a personal favorite--"Anchor Song"--as an encore.

Bjork has once again exceeded all expectations, and look forward to many more surprises from her.

/cblasky - 3334

One of the best shows I've ever seen. I was lucky enough to get pre-sale tickets and ended up in the 4th row of the orchestra pit, dead center.

M.I.A. was phenomenal. That girl can dance! I saw her @ lolla, but was really far back in the crowd and didn't have the new cd yet, so this show was much much more enjoyable. She has an amazing voice + her live show is tons of fun. Then she came out during declare independence and was toying around with the electronic gadgets and just looked like she was having an awesome time.

I saw Bjork in Chicago for the 1st time earlier this summer + it blew me away, but this show was way better. She seemed to be having a much better time in detroit, giggling to herself all throughout the set, and dancing around a lot more. When she shot the spiderweb thingy out during one of the first songs, it hit me right in the chest! She also did a great job of switching up her 'Midwest' setlists - playing a lot of songs that she didn't play in Chicago - I miss you, hunter, joga, + my personal favorite, the anchor song. Desired Constellation was another special treat for detroit and looked and sounded very impressive for the 1st time trying it live.

The dude she said "stop" to (I think it was a dude..big frizzy hair, not really sure) was about 5 feet in front of me + in the very first row against the stage. It looked to me like he/she was just standing there with a camera recording the whole show + bjork must have got annoyed, but I'm not positive. It was a little akward for about 30 seconds, but then she got right back into her groove.

Bjork, thanks for an amazing night full of smiles and memories. Hopefully you won't wait another 12 years to come back!

/rewindslow - 3329

I got to see Bjork for the third time this year, and once again she absolutely blew me away. She truly is someone born to be a performer; tremendous energy, stage presence, powerful voice capable of nailing those high notes, charisma, and she really seems to be having fun, even in what must be the most boring city on the whole tour. There was no "phoning it in", we really got our money's worth, many times over by my estimation.

I can't remember the set list in its entirety, but one of the highlights was Desired Constellation. It was just Bjork and the reactable. The plaintive wail "How am I gonna make it right?" she bellowed out repeatedly. Just phenomenal. SHe said that was the the first time they had played it.

Interestingly, I don't think that they played anything off Debut except the Anchor Song as an encore. The second verse in Icelandic was a nice touch. A nice mixture of the rest of the albums, and a good mixture of quiet songs and rockers like Army of Me. During which, the bassline was at just the right frequency that it made my hair vibrate. It was the strangest sensation.

Evidently someone in the audience was doing something to her like pointing a light in her eyes or something, because in the beginning of Pleasure is All Mine, she walked right up to the opera pits seats and pointed at someone, and we could hear her say "stop". She seemed to be a little rattled and seemed to stumble over the words right after that, but quickly recovered. She seemed to have some microphone problems during Joga, but it was still OK, and Jonas Sen seemed to be really mad during Earth Intruders? like his keyboard wasn't working. He kept looking offstage at someone, then he started playing towards the end of the song.

The Fox Theater is a beautifully ornate, opulent facility, and I was in the 4th row, a little more off-center than I would have liked. They had a few more "parlor tricks" that added to the fun this time than when I saw them in Chicago. In addition to the flags, lights and lasers and explosions during Earth Intruders, this time they had a confetti explosion and some weird "string blaster" that launched a big long wad of strings about 10 meters long out of her hand.

In summary, I have to say to anyone who has never seen Bjork in person: do your self a favor and see her perform while she is still capable of performing at this level. I think she must be at the height of her powers, but who knows how long she can keep this up?

/drow0235 - 3328

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