Fleet Foxes launch an extensive summer tour tonight in Cleveland and celebrate the occasion by releasing official recordings on Bandcamp of two stellar covers played live over the past year. The group unveiled their takes on The Strokes’ “Under Control” and Joni Mitchell’s “Hejira.”
Frontman Robin Pecknold and company were joined by Uwade and horns from The Westerlies for their “Under Control” cover at New York City’s Forest Hills Stadium on August 13, 2022. The band and their guests dressed the part by wearing tennis gear at the former home of the US Open. Fleet Foxes honored The Strokes in their hometown by debuting the song off 2003’s Room On Fire.
“Last summer we were honored to have the incredible vocalist and songwriter Uwade Akhere open for us on tour. One thing we all bonded over backstage was a shared love of The Strokes — hearing Uwa’s voice echoing down the halls as she sang ‘The End Has No End’ or ‘Reptilia’ was always a highlight of the day,” Pecknold explained. “Considering this, I thought she might get a kick out of singing ‘Under Control’ with us and the Westerlies at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in Queens, so we pulled it together at soundcheck and asked her — it was amazing! She ruled it. Thank you Uwade!”
Stream Fleet Foxes’ “Under Control” cover featuring Uwade and The Westerlies below:
https://fleetfoxes.bandcamp.com/album/under-control-live-at-forest-hills-stadium-feat-uwade-the-westerlies
The “Hejira” cover came at Los Angeles’ Belasco Theatre during Fleet Foxes’ “Spring Recital” concert on March 22, 2023 which featured a surprise opening set and guest appearance from Joanna Newsom. Robin brought out his father, Greg Pecknold, to play fretless bass in replicating Jaco Pastorius’ role on the title track to Mitchell’s 1976 studio album. Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen and The Westerlies’ horns also contributed to Fleet Foxes’ debut performance of “Hejira.” Robin Pecknold noted the following in regards to the Joni Mitchell cover:
“My father built bass guitars and played in bands in his twenties and thirties in the Northwest; his dream was to be Joni Mitchell’s bassist, like the great Jaco Pastorius. Right before our surprise show with Joanna Newsom in March, I bought back for him one of the fretless basses he had made in the 80’s, and I thought it would be sweet for us to play ‘Hejira’ together, on the same bill as Joanna, the Joni of our time. It was also an honor to be joined by Daniel Rossen for this, one of the greatest musicians of the last 20 years. Thank you Dan and Dad!”
Listen to Fleet Foxes’ cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Hejira” below:
https://fleetfoxes.bandcamp.com/album/hejira-live-at-the-spring-recital-feat-daniel-rossen-greg-pecknold-the-westerlies
Find a full list of Fleet Foxes tour dates by scrolling below.
