by Jake McKenzie
photo by Shawn Brackbill
Bastions of the indie folk boom of the late aughts, Fleet Foxes exploded onto the scene in a mist of wool scarves and hypnotic chants with their 2008 self-tilted, Sub Pop-released debut. The launching pad of former drummer Father John Misty, Fleet Foxes and frontman Robin Pecknold have stuck to their guns with the unglamorous sound of the band’s new release Crack-Up, while also exploring more complex melodies and even dipping their toes into psychedelia and African beats. As dense and complex as Crack-Up is, its subsequent tour dates have cemented Pecknold as a consummate crowed-pleaser, playing all the “hits” as it were and always putting on a good show for die-hard fans and casual listeners alike. Crooning their way through hymns and reveries, Fleet Foxes make even the most complicated arrangements seem easy. And their live show is sure to wash over you like warm fuzzy memories of a time that never was.
