First Aid Kit specializes in making soft, dreamy country/folk music.
Oh, but there is another side to the increasingly popular Swedish duo – consisting of Klara and Johanna Soderberg – which was certainly on display as First Aid Kit kicked off its North American tour with a sold-out show at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Wednesday (Jan. 24).
The most striking occurrence came during the first half of the show as the two women – who were backed by three side musicians – rocked into “You Are the Problem Here.”
“I am so sick and tired of this world. All these women with their dreams shattered from some man’s sweaty, desperate touch,” Klara roared through the lyrics. “How did you ever think you had the right to put your entitled hands up her thighs?”
The crowd stood transfixed by the sheer weight and emotion of the song, which crashed to a conclusion as Klara screamed at the song’s antagonist, “I hope you (expletive) suffer!”
Wow. What a moment, one that clearly took its toll on the lead vocalist herself.
“I have to take a second,” she said to the capacity crowd, pausing for a moment. “I get so angry when I sing that song.”
She then reflected on how the number – which was released in 2015 – has grown even more relevant in recent years with the #MeToo movement.
“I think I can speak for every woman in this crowd in saying we are really (expletive) sick of being afraid,” said Klara, adding that men who behave badly with women “aren’t going to get away with it anymore.”
First Aid Kit reaches Oakland pic.twitter.com/XCe47FFq3A
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 25, 2018
The Soderberg sisters then returned to their regular course, slinging one charmingly folksy tune after another. But the power and fury of “You Are the Problem” continued to resonant for quite some time throughout the building, reminding everywhere of what this soft-country-rock duo is capable of doing.
First Aid Kid, which formed in 2007 when the sisters were both in their teens, would once again flex its muscles a bit later in the night. It came when the Soderbergs ventured into the songbook of another sister act – Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Heart – and delivered a blistering version of the rock-radio-staple “Crazy On You.” Ann and Nancy Wilson would’ve been proud.
The band also did a nice job showcasing its fourth studio album, “Ruins,” which was just released a few days earlier.
First Aid Kit opened the show with a gorgeous version of “Rebel Heart,” which also happens to be the first song on the new album, and then continued to follow the track listing as it delivered an equally satisfying “It’s a Shame.”
More First Aid Kit from beautiful Oakland. pic.twitter.com/nnCkDhMSik
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 25, 2018
The vocal harmonies absolutely soared, bringing such warmth and beauty to these glistening country-pop gems. But the music barely resembled what passes for mainstream country (or pop) these days, but instead would’ve likely appealed to fans of such talents as Graham Parsons, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Lee Ann Womack.
One of the best moments of the night came, as expected, when Klara (lead vocals/guitar) and Johanna (vocals/bass) performed the exquisite single “Emmylou,” which hails from 2012’s “The Lion’s Roar.”
It’s such a lovely tune that it once famously made it’s namesake – Emmylou Harris – tear up when First Aid Kit performed it for her.
And it’s easy to understand why. The sweetly nostalgic tune is one of the best love songs of the decade.
First Aid Kit closed the roughly 100-minute show with a generous encore that featured the return of opening act Van William, who sang with the sisters on “Revolution.”
