Sylvan Esso kicked off their ‘Shaking Out The Numb’ tour with two spectacular performances at Palace Theatre last week.

Opener Lido Pimienta kicked off on night two with a delightfully humorous and charming set. Accompanied by her partner Brandon Valdivia on percussion/production, their simple and intimate stage setup allowed for complete focus on the magic of Pimienta’s vocals. In between songs Pimienta joked with the audience, even going so far as to single out a new “rich husband” from the audience, making a promise to return to collect him after the tour concluded. She took time to explain the meaning of her lyrics (Pimienta mostly sings in Spanish), but due to the way she emotes and dances her way through her songs, it was almost unnecessary. The crowd was enthralled by her every note.

Sylvan Esso appeared after a brief intro, emerging from dense fog. Producer Nick Sanborn greeted the crowd first while vocalist/lyricist Amelia Meath began her performance backstage, slowly stepping out onto the stage when the timing was just right. The duo hit their stride during third song Dreamy Bruises off of their 2014 self-title debut, and the momentum continued throughout their set.

The concert was a love letter to their amazing 2020 album Free Love, while longtime fan favorites like H.S.K.T. and Die Young also made an appearance. Meath’s signature dance-y, carefree stage presence encouraged the audience to lose themselves in the experience. The concert was a celebration of the joy of live music. They acknowledged that it was special to be playing in MN again, as Sanborn was born here, and they expressed their thanks to the venue staff and crew. Toward the end of their set, Meath thanked the crowd again, gushing, “Oh man, you guys are so fun. We love coming here. Thank you so much!”

Photos: Morgan Winston