There was a time when Sufjan Stevens was merely a shy alt-folk hero with heavenly pipes and delicate ballads. Seeing him live looked something like this. And although there were occasional appearances by wings, costumes and psychedelia at performances -- for his All Tomorrow's Parties performance in 2009, Stevens cleaned out the tie-dye section of the Kutsher's hotel gift shop for his band's wardrobe -- we didn't quite expect the foil-hat-wearing, crystal-disco-ball-worshipping, neon-black-light, pop-dance-pageant explosion his stage show has become over the last year. It's a spectacle to say the least -- imagine if Polyphonic Spree, Of Montreal, Animal Collective, and the Flaming Lips all got on stage together, helmed by a soft-spoken leader who clearly drank the Kool-aid.
In Sufjan's own words last night at Prospect Park (the first of two sold-out shows wrapping up his tour): "The new folk aesthetic is the outer space aesthetic." He went on to explain that this new thing was inspired by schizophrenic outsider artist and eventual minister, Royal Robertson, who was also the inspiration for Stevens latest album, The Age of Adz. ("Google him", instructed Stevens.)
Offstage, loads of Sufjan-devotees festooned themselves with fluorescent-tape tribal markings and neon accessories, some of whom you can see in these photos from the wonderfully weird cosmic evening.
(A note to those going tonight -- save room for snacks! Prospect Park doesn't skimp on bougie food offerings: cucumber lemonade, olives, organic summer fruit, fresh pickles and ice-cream from Prospect Height's new Ample Hills Creamery were all for sale. We tried a scoop of their "Elvis" ice cream -- that's peanut butter, banana and candied-bacon, and it's delicious.)
In Sufjan's own words last night at Prospect Park (the first of two sold-out shows wrapping up his tour): "The new folk aesthetic is the outer space aesthetic." He went on to explain that this new thing was inspired by schizophrenic outsider artist and eventual minister, Royal Robertson, who was also the inspiration for Stevens latest album, The Age of Adz. ("Google him", instructed Stevens.)
Offstage, loads of Sufjan-devotees festooned themselves with fluorescent-tape tribal markings and neon accessories, some of whom you can see in these photos from the wonderfully weird cosmic evening.
(A note to those going tonight -- save room for snacks! Prospect Park doesn't skimp on bougie food offerings: cucumber lemonade, olives, organic summer fruit, fresh pickles and ice-cream from Prospect Height's new Ample Hills Creamery were all for sale. We tried a scoop of their "Elvis" ice cream -- that's peanut butter, banana and candied-bacon, and it's delicious.)
