First Aid Kit

If you are a fan of alt-country or singer-songwriters (Avett Brothers, The Civil Wars, Ray LaMontagne, Brandi Carlile, et. al.), you should be a fan of First Aid Kit.
In my opinion, these two charming Swedish sisters are right on the upward trajectory of breaking through to selling out arenas - if that is what they want to do. Most of the shows that I have seen this year have been in smaller venues where there is an easy sense of intimacy between the artist and the crowd, but this concert was in the GWU Lisner Auditorium in D.C. And yet, First Aid Kit was able to retain that key sense of intimacy with their set and the crowd. One of my favorite parts of the concert was when they unplugged from the mics, walked to the middle of the stage together (they stand about 5 ft apart from each other during the concert), and just sang with an acoustic guitar accompanying. It was raw and beautiful - music in its simplest form - and showcased the immense talent that these sisters have.
Besides the music, the sisters are really endearing and like to engage and interact with the crowd. Another favorite part was when they took a quick break between songs to entertain with a bunch of cheesy cheese jokes. It was sweet, funny, and made everyone laugh and added another layer of sweet enjoyment to the overall show.
The uniqueness of their sound and depth of tonality in their voices made for a thoroughly enjoyable night. The sound hits the eardrums deep, worms it way into the head, and stays with you long after the show has ended. I enjoyed their music before - I find myself converted to an even bigger fan after seeing them live.

If you allow the dulcet tones of the country-folk duo, First Aid Kit, to wash over you, the seamless harmonies and timeless pedal steel guitar transport you to a pocket of relaxation, rare in the technological 21st Century. I first saw the sisters perform in London back in 2012, and was immediately captivated by their fresh sound. The venue was small and intimate, and the duo held the silence of the audience throughout their opening song 'Wolf' before the final chord echoed and the audience erupted into delighted and impressed cheers.
It's easy to forget that they started out as a YouTube sensation with their cover of Fleet Foxes whilst they were both still in school, but watching them perform leaves no doubt that they have worked hard and entirely deserve the credit they are given. First Aid Kit are not a YouTube fame sensation in the way you may expect, they have built critical acclaim and constantly perform knock out shows. They have earned the respect of the audience to such a degree, that save the moments when we were encouraged to sing along, silence swept the venue.
The harmonies from the girls was something that really stood out, and is even more accentuated in a live performance rather than on a recording. We heard the fragile vibratos intertwining in a ghostly manner, alongside the support and power that was demonstrated. A live performance from First Aid Kit really shows something that seems to be lacking in the music industry today - genuine talent, conviction, passion, and enjoyment. A fantastic experience.

It’s easy to forget, given that it was eventually a runaway success, but First Aid Kit’s breakthrough record, The Lion’s Roar, was actually kind of a slow-burner; despite meeting with a unanimously positive critical reception when the Swedish sisters dropped it in January 2012, it wasn’t until the tail end of that year that they finally began to reap the rewards. It was certified platinum in their native Sweden, and whilst some of their testimonials were a little more dubious - David Cameron allegedly attended their Shepherd’s Bush Empire show - the fact that they were selling out the sort of rooms they’d only seen as support acts before - most notably, when touring with compatriot Lykke Li - was a clear indicator of the heights they’d reached. Not that they let it go to their heads, though; whilst they bring a full band with them on the road, the crux of their live shows - just as with their records - is the beautiful manner in which their voices work in harmony. Sure, the band are necessary to bring the kind of rolling drama to the likes of ‘Emmylou’ and ‘Blue’ that are required to do them justice, but honestly, the Soderberg sisters would be every bit as enchanting if it was just the two of them onstage - a couple of guitars, those bewitching voices, and you’ve already got the makings of a genuinely gorgeous performance. They’re back in the UK in September, promoting their new LP, Stay Gold; most dates are already sold out, so don’t sleep on the ones that have tickets remaining.

First Aid Kit have come a long way since their enchanting version of Fleet Foxes' 'Tiger Mountain Peasant Song' which went viral back in 2008, exposing their talent to a worldwide audience. Fast-forward five years and with two albums under their belts, sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg find themselves performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2013. The Swedish folk duo glimmered in the afternoon sun; their cool hippy appearance and indeed their sound wouldn't be out of place at a festival in the 1960s. This really isn't a coincidence as First Aid Kit draw many of their musical influences from that era. Indeed, they even cover songs by Paul Simon and Bob Dylan respectively. Both these covers are gorgeous. First Aid Kit's music can easily fall into the genre of americana and country as they truly excel at both. Their whole set is made up of mesmerising harmonies with delicate compositions of instruments. It is of course their voices that are astounding – it's hard to believe they are only 19 and 22 years old. It is so rare to hear two voices that are able to compliment each other so well. Crowd favourites are clearly 'Emmylou' and 'The Lion's Roar' – the latter in particular causing a good ol' sing along. Such a wonderful performance. I have no doubt First Aid Kit will continue to go from strength to strength. The future is certainly bright for these two.

I really like First Aid Kits' work and was really looking forward to this concert. However, I was a little disappointed, not by the performance which was excellent, but by the attitude.
Apart from the music, it seems that they lacked any respect for the audience in a number of ways.

1) They started late. There may of been a legitimate reason; but we never found out. Took a slow hand clap to get them on and going.
2) The swearing from them and their support band was completely uncalled for. I felt sorry for the couple of families that were there with kids. They acted like little school girls let out for the first time. I've seen tougher\rougher bands and they don't need to resort to that kind of language. They acted like it was 'really cool'.
3) The 5 minute 'rant' that the 'ladies' went into was totally unprofessional. It completely alienated and angered 1/2 the audience; which was pretty evident from the muted lack of response from the crowd. Even though I agree with their subject, there is a time\place and a manner in which it can be delivered. This wasn't either. They lack a lot of maturity, common sense and sensitivity in that regard.

However, their music, as stated before, was excellent and the show really good. Vocals were top notch and the band was brilliant.

Fabulous! Klara and Johanna were superb delivering a spine-tingling playlist of favourites mixed with songs from their latest album 'Ruins'.
'Emmylou' had the packed Roundhouse audience entranced and the entire house singing the chorus was very emotional.
Backed by a class band and supported by the very talented Van William who also joined them for a track, 'Revolution' from his recent debut album, the Soderberg sisters delivered on every level to fill over ninety minutes with the finest folk/country indie rock. Definitely one of the best and certainly most unique acts you'll have the pleasure of experiencing. I left the Roundhouse ever so slightly in love with this ultra-talented Swedish duo and begging for more.
Well worth battling against snow and freezing conditions to see.
A combination of wonderful live music and a fabulous venue guaranteed a memorable night out, if you only go to one gig in your life, make sure it's a First Aid Kit gig, you will not be disappointed.

There is little to complain about regarding this wonderful sister duo and this was no exception. That marvelous combination and chemistry between themeselves is truly an unique experience, it has to be. Also their band for this tour brings something to the mix, an excellent ensamble.

However, there must be something said for the venue. Waterfront congress centre, well that may just tell you that perhaps this isn’t the ideal place as a stage for a concert. In the upper tier of the hall there is two(!) sections of glass preventing the audience to get the formidable connection with the duo you usually get. The sound is still very good, and the only part of the view that is actually blocked is the lower part of the artists legs, yet the connection is as good as gone. There should really be some consideration as to what van be done about those awful glass screens, or other venues should be preferred.

First Aid Kit delivers an amazing performance, staying true to their music and not over-endorcing their new album. Though jokes were rehearsed and reused, their passion seemed genuine and they had a real and true connection to the audience. Unplugging their microphones and guitars and having everyone but those singing along go silent was not only a suprise, but a real treat. It was a magical moment when all we heard was the hum of the audience and their pure, non-amplified voices. The only thing that could have made the concert better would have been them coming outside to take pictures with the 6 or so young fans like me. I was looking forward to meeting them, but wasnt suprised when they drove away. Overall, they put on an amazing and truly beautiful show with passionate melodies and maintain a real connection to the audience.

First Aid Kit – beautiful in both voice and looks.
If you're cursorily into this band and are wavering on whether to go or not, I say do it. Sure, I knew "The Lion's Roar" and "Emmylou" by heart, but would the two sisters from Sweden be worth dropping $30 on? Yes, they most certainly are.
These ladies have the loveliest voices, truly. Their outfits were beautiful (and the male drummer is sexy as well). First Aid Kit creates a close-knit atmosphere with the crowd. They even played a fully unplugged song, singing directly to us. They were adorably awkward and simply fun to be around. If you consider yourself a fan of Indie Folk, go, go, go!!

First Aid Kit puts on a wonderful show. Touring their newest album, Ruins, they played plenty of new songs (Firework, Rebel Heart, It's a Shame, Postcard, and more) mixed in with beloved tunes from their previous albums as well (Wolf, The Lion's Roar, Stay Gold, My Silver Lining, King of the World). The sing-along of "Ghost Town" of previous tours has been replaced with "Hem of her Dress" which is more of a fun, romping sing-along for the audience. This is my third time seeing FAK live, and they always sound flawless. If you're even a passing fan, you'll enjoy seeing them bring their soulful melodies to life on stage.