Sufjan Stevens began his Kings Theatre run (pics & setlist of night 1 w/ Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens)

photos by Amanda Hatfield

Sufjan Stevens @ Kings Theatre – 5/1/15

After playing NYC’s Beacon Theatre back in early April, Sufjan Stevens brought his tour in support of his fantastic new album Carrie & Lowell to NYC last night (5/1) to begin a two-night stand at Brooklyn’s recently-reopened Kings Theatre. After opening with the delicate instrumental “Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou” from 2003’s Michigan, Sufjan proceeded to play 10 of Carrie & Lowell‘s 11 tracks all in a row, almost in the exact order as the album tracklist. He didn’t talk at all during that section, and he and his backing band (including Dawn Landes, who’s playing with him on this tour) kept things mostly as bare-bones as the album. After that part, he played a couple of his more recent songs that fit the stripped-down vibe of this show (“Futile Devices” from The Age of Adz and “The Owl and the Tanager” from All Delighted People), as well as a few Seven Swans cuts, before wrapping up the pre-encore set with Carrie & Lowell closer “Blue Bucket of Gold.” Then he returned for an encore of all early-mid ’00s songs, including set-closer “Chicago.”

The Kings Theatre really was the perfect atmosphere for this kind of show, and both Sufjan and opener Naomi Shelton said on stage how good it was to be on Flatbush Ave. Sufjan ended up telling a story of living in the area and going by Cortelyou Carpets to take a picture of the sign every day.

Sufjan returns to Kings tonight (5/2) with Moses Sumney, which is sold out. More pictures from last night’s show, and Sufjan’s setlist and a couple videos, below…

—

Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens

Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens @ Kings Theatre – 5/1/15 Setlist: (via)
Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)
Death With Dignity
Should Have Known Better
Drawn to the Blood
All of Me Wants All of You
Eugene
John My Beloved
The Only Thing
Fourth of July
No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross
Carrie & Lowell
The Owl and the Tanager
In the Devil’s Territory
To Be Alone With You
Futile Devices
Sister
Blue Bucket of Gold

Encore:
Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
The Dress Looks Nice on You
Chicago