SoundProof - Live: Feist

I could rate Feist’s performance at The Sony centre on May 13th out of 1-2-3-4 stars, but aren’t you just a bit sick of that by now? After being inundated with countless headlines playing off the title of her hit song in order to report her five Juno wins this year, I think we’ve had enough of that particular pun. My own journalistic annoyance aside, there was no doubt that Feist wowed and entertained the entire Sony Centre, from beginning to end.

Opening act, Great Lake Swimmers, did an excellent job of warming up the stage with "Moving Pictures Silent Films", "Your Rocky Spine", "Bodies and Minds" and "There is a Light". There is no denying that Tony Dekker and Julia Fader make a dynamic pair whose harmonies are near perfection. Their actual stage presence was a bit boring but their song writing, voices and pure musical talents were enough to keep the music aficionado entertained.

But we really knew the evening was going to be amazing when Feist crept onto the dark stage, candle lantern in hand, and performed the first song, "When I was a Girl," behind a white scrim, showcasing an eerie, yet arty Feist silhouette. Pay attention Mattel, this may be the next big action figure.

"Mushaboom" was next along with a flurry of snow. Well, not quite. Interwoven throughout the show was a series of performance art pieces, from the aforementioned homemade snowflakes, to projectionist art of a growing garden, a finger-painted tempest, flying birds and a simulated fireworks show. It was delightfully artistic but not to be taken too seriously. Feist herself joked, "did you get that those were snowflakes?" while she picked them up and attempted to blow them into the crowd.

Perhaps snow was an inspiration as she was adorned in white from head to toe, complete with tassels hanging from both her sleeves and skirt, which showcased her classic ‘shimmy dance’ pretty well. She looked contemporarily vintage in a way that can only be described as very "Feist".

Her unique appeal extends beyond her wardrobe, as she appears to be a musician who isn’t afraid to entertain. As she went on to "My Moon My Man", she playfully encouraged the crowd to "Sing along dammit!" In fact, the entire show really felt as comfortable as hanging out with a friend. Maybe it was her affinity for her adopted hometown or the fact that Feist is a professional, even if it wasn’t until recently that half the world discovered her. Feist fans know she’s been around for a while and she knows what she’s doing. However, she remains humble, letting us in on her affinity for intimate venues: "I’m just pretending this is the Rivoli, just to get through it."

She continued to display this professionalism with an impressive Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew cover, "Fucked Up Kid" which she preceded with a warning to her brother (in the crowd) to take her young nephew for a bathroom break. Auntie Feist doesn’t swear after all.

Continuing to tease the crowd, she divided us in area codes 647, 416, 905, and Americans, to create an incredible harmony that lead into "I’m Sorry", one of my favourite songs of the night. Radio hit "1234" was a fan favourite as it had people out of their seats, dancing in the aisles and singing along. She showcased her electric side with "SeaLion" and "The Limit to Your Love," rocking out and stirring the crowd into a frenzy. There certainly wasn’t any lack of "I love you" heckles coming from the male contingency of the crowd.

A final highlight was her incredible band. They traded instruments, showcasing their vast musical talent, and played to perfection. Even they, however, couldn’t outshine the voice, charisma and overall talent of Feist herself. At one point she even attempted to play Happy Birthday on the harmonica (which she doesn’t play) for her booking agent, Rob Zifarelli. It didn’t really work, mind you, but her sincerity and sweetness was endearing.

For those who held onto their original tickets for the Feb 18 show, and for the rest of us, Feist did not disappoint. She solidly confirmed the fact that she deserves every accolade she receives. In fact, she was so good, I just can’t resist: I give her 1-2-3-4 stars.