Laufey Brings True Exuberance And Light To Target Center
Autumn is here but the chilly temperatures have still been held back, Saturday evening was sitting at a delightful 70 degrees with a slight breeze. Perfect night for a show.
Went back to one of my favorite haunts before a show, Inbound Brewing. Other than their great location and frost mugs full of craft beer, the meters when not in “event pricing” are only a dollar an hour on Fifth Street. Ya know this gal loves a clutch cheap spot. Unfortunately, their new Snowplow IPA was sadly sold out (which was devastating due to being super pumped to try it.) Settled with my tried and true Hazy Shades IPA to accompany my medium warm Jersey Mike’s Chicken Bacon Ranch. Didn’t double check to se if the Mirasol food truck would be present, of course it was. They have fantastic options, so if you see their little black trailer outside a spot you are in for a tasty time. My sandwich was good enough, better than shelling out a bunch of clams for fried food at Target Center. Maybe I’ll give it a whirl next time, but spending almost 8 bucks on a hot dog isn’t my bag. Inbound had some live music going on so made my dinner and beer that much more pleasant. Nice local group playing folk covers of popular songs. Love a Michael Jackson tune melted into some fingerpicking guitar.
Time to head to Target Center. Was there a few minutes before doors, walking along the snaking line through the skyway hallways. I have not seen this long of a pre-doors line in years. While walking past the no less than a thousand humans to will-call, started to notice the alarmingly amazing fashion the attendees were decked out in. It was a continuing theme throughout the night, have some great footage on my phone of the litany of lush fits. Dripping in lace and bows and flowy fabrics, the gals looked like a combination of a small town girl from 1997 that just got a windfall at the local consignment shop and a Studio 54 groupie that got lost on the way to the club. The boys were dripping in pressed suits, gauzy tops, ascots, feathered hats, and of course, handmade crowns.
As a cartoon character myself, I wear almost the same thing every day (shoutout to my arsenal of black zip up hoodies.) Probably was the only all-black cladded guest. Even the moms and dads accompanying their kids were adorned in sick duds. Best dressed is most certainly a hot competition at these shows, later realizing it is actually a thing at Laufey concerts. Laufey awarded best dressed to a fellow later during the performance betwixt songs. His inspiration was from the song “Valentine,” false blooming flowers dotted his colorful breast pockets and hat. He looked like a springtime dream, can see why it was awarded the win. Maybe some inspiration rubbed off on me, should add more variety into my clothing expression. I have fallen into a devil’s pattern of sameness with my outfits. Predictable, with pockets. Black so it doesn’t show all the dirt I roll around when snapping photos. Also, easy way to hide. Need to snap out of that, and seeing all the excited youth in their artfully put together fits inspired me to make a slight deviation. Well, not quite yet. But maybe later.
Had to check out the merch prices, especially since it’s a popular-with-the-kids show, see how much they are being fleeced. Happily surprised, reasonable prices. Tour shirts were reasonable at $45, sweaters starting at $80. Seems to be a consistent trend at every show these days, records were being sold at $40. Unlike the bit more hefty price at Marina the other week, monogramed fans were only $10 versus $25. The line was long and boisterous, so moseyed on to my seats for the opening act.
Starting at 7:30pm on the dot, Suki Waterhouse took the stage. Clad in a faux fir lavender oversized jacket and black sparkling jumpsuit and boots, Waterhouse brought the cool in right away. The fan that was consistently blowing on her played with her fringey cut blonde hair so beautifully as she sung. Everyone that wants a wind machine should get them, no holiday required. Target Center was about half full for her ten song set, but was giving her full packed house energy. Showing a command of not only the stage but how she appear on it, Suki Waterhouse showed by she is not only a singer and songwriter, but actress and model. Being discovered at 16 in a London Pub, she has walked for mega fashion brands such as Burberry and Balenciaga, and you can TELL. Her movements are like her namesake Waterhouse, flowing and naturally contained. Keeping you caught in the wake. Couldn’t tear my eyes away. Though she only has two albums out so far, her sound is clean and her ability to command a stage appears natural. She most certainly made some new fans Saturday night, myself included.
Inbetween sets, walked around to get some steps in and creep on more sweet outfits. Saw some prince and princess gowns that were truly amazing. These 16 year olds can style. Maybe it’s due to me trending towards 18 plus shows, or just the genres I enjoy (not a lot of bows at metal shows,) but was starstruck over and over by how good these kids are at creating a vibe. Yes, many were a softer note of white skirt button up, but saw a TON of antique and vintage pieces. Thrifting is strong with this generation, and I’m here for it. Before Ragstock became what it is now, you could find me pilfering through their dusty stinky racks for a choice shirt for $3.50. Reselling and upcycling isn’t dead yet, and the Laufey crowd confirmed where they all go on a weekend night. I followed the clunky clogs and ballerina flats back to my seat, settled in and got ready to be wowed.
And wowed I was. Almost more than wowed. Stunned. Icelandic juggernaut Laufey started the fantasy out right with the stage design alone, which morphed with each acts during the show. Battling metal whimsical staircases flanked each side of the stage, illuminated vector articulations on the facade of both. My side was a ghostly skeleton hand. Perfect for bringing a touch of October spooky into this airy vibrant vibe. The first act of Laufey ignited the crowd, not only did almost every soul in the venue know every word, but also the claps and pauses to respond with. A mix of pop, lounge lizard, rock, Broadway, and of course, jazz, the song “Lover Girl” being the second song played was a surgically accurate read of pacing the show. So many artists wait to play their big hitters till the last few songs. Audience participation was running at an eleven just a few steps into the show. Four dancers
With a tour that’s called A Matter Of Time, couldn’t ask for anything more than a giant stage extension jutting into the floor, featuring a monster clock face as an additional stage for the jazz sesh aka Act II of the set. Bringing a sense of intimacy in a huge space, Laufey and her musicians executed that feeling with precision even in the sea of percolating fans. Act III was perhaps my favorite. Where the Broadway vibes really got hot was with the song “Carousel.” Thoughout the event, four choreographed dancers in fringe frosted leotards swirling around the stage. During this song, two on each side of course, brought out transparent balloons with black horses emblazoned on them. Referencing old carnival illusion games, primitive movies aka moving pictures came alive while rotating the umbrella just like a film reel. Shoutout to those ladies’ herculean wrist strength on top of their dancing prowess. Of course Mei Mei the bunny made an appearance during the middle of the show. Laufey mascot and an embodiment of Icelandic curiosity and general interest in the world. Gotta have a sprinkle of gimmick, the excluuuuuusive merch drops are available on the Laufey website (as I type this, apparently only 22 hours left to go for the next drop…) If you need a cute stuffed animal, go for it. Not a big fan of the scarcity tactic with merch selling, so yeah, I’ll skip.
It is relentlessly apparent and impossible to ignore; Laufey is an artist to see live. Her vocals are ethereal and better than the record, and the record quality is already in the stratosphere. Even with five acts, AND and encore, the quality never waivered. The talented musicians supporting and the bendy energetic dancers not missing a beat on top of the glittering dreamy stage and set design leaving nothing to be desired = to the moon. Then doing it for 25 songs to a packed screaming house. Gonna say it again. Wow.
