Agnes Obel is touring the U.S. again after releasing her 2013 sophomoric album, Aventine. Even the unpleasant weather in Philadelphia didn’t keep away her fans from packing the World Cafe Live. Since attending her first performance in Philadelphia back in 2011, I enjoyed seeing her career appropriately expand with a larger and fuller sound. Obel played several songs in support of Aventine, which she wrote, produced, arranged and mixed. The first few graceful notes from her piano and you instantly feel her artistry demanding your undivided attention. Like a painter approaches their subject on canvas, Agnes does the same with her hauntingly beautiful songs on piano.
Born and raised in Copenhagen Denmark, Agnes released her debut album Philharmonics in 2010 on PIAS Recordings. In 2011 she was named the ‘Best Songwriter Of The Year’ at the Danish Music Awards. Agnes is without a doubt a multi-talent that must be experienced live as words fall flat describing the complex layers of her music. And eloquently backed by cellist, Anne Müller, of Germany and Mika Posen of Canada on violin, at times the trio sounded like a orchestra. Again, something that can only be experienced live in concert. This was indeed a thoughtful performance to be appreciated and remembered.
Though one of my personal favorites from the night was “Riverside”, I thought very highly of new songs like “Dorian”, “Aventine” and “The Curse”. And by the end of the show the attentive audience stood up and gave Agnes and band a rousing ovation with loud cheers. Walking off stage for a few minutes, the trio returned for the encore with Obel inviting song requests from the audience. A woman called out for “Over the hill”, a song off of Philharmonics that Agnes admitted to not playing in a long while, though still executed it superbly. The final song of the show posed by an audience member was “Pass Them By”, which Agnes expressed is about a bad date (inset audience laughter here!) from the Aventine album.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Agnes Obel live. See remaining tour dates below.
2014 Aventine tour dates:
August 13 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
August 14 Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
October 30 Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN
November 1 Park West, Chicago, IL
November 2 Stoughton Opera House, Madison, WI
November 4 Harbourfront Centre Theatre, Toronto, ON
November 5 Harbourfront Centre Theatre, Toronto, ON
November 7 Iron Horse, Northampton, MA
November 10 The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA
November 11 L’Olympia, Montreal, QC
November 13 Le Palais Montcalm, Quebec City, QC
Official website: http://www.agnesobel.com
