Fusing an innovative and anthemic blues rock sound with her tongue-in-cheek, almost whimsical lyrics, Feist gave an explosive final performance last night at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall.

Courtesy of last.fm

Bringing the house down and her UK tour to a cataclysmic close, Feist’s performance was as energising and inspiring as it was hypnotic. Her subtle blend of complex and ranging melodies work together to intrigue and capture the audience’s attention, creating an almost euphoric  and intoxicating sound.

Opening with a re-worked version of the IndieKid’s favourite,  ‘Mushaboom’, Feist immediately confirmed her own song-writing talent as well as her music’s evolving nature. Paring the music back to a bare and almost primitive rhythmic lament, the song lost all remnants of whimsy, gaining a sense of power and strength that set the tone of the evening.

It takes considerable persuasion to coax hot and tired Glasgwegians out of their seats, but within twenty mintues of her set, Feist’s energy had spread through the crowd like wildfire. Whooping and hollering, the audience were captivated by the performance, giving the experience a uniquely dynamic quality.

Alongside the singer herself, the band also surpassed all expectation. Deserving special mention were backing singer group Mountain Man, three tiny American women whose demeanor belied the startling and profund quality of their voices. Heart breaking and beautiful, they gave Feist’s own voice a cut-glass edge that transformed her lyrics and brought them a strangely realised quality.

Feist has come a long way from the days of twee indie pop numbers such as the now reviled ‘1, 2, 3, 4’. Her maturity as an artist has brought her the confidence to explore the limits of her capabilities as a song writer, and as she continues to challenge herself, so she continues to engage her listeners to the fullest extent. Finally, after twenty years producing music, Feist is producing music that is a testament to her extensive creative talent. Her music has a freshness that translates well beyond her recordings. Exciting and always evolving, Feist looks set to retain her place at the forefront of the indie scene.