The band had just completed their summer tour and was anxious to document what they had developed on the road. They crammed into the tiny studio at the all-analog Rare Book Room to record directly onto two track tape. That meant no remixing, no overdubs. It became all about capturing the performance, with microphone and musician adjustments between takes. Those recordings along with a conversation with Justin became part of this session. The final song Justin cut was a version of “Beth/Rest” with just him on piano. All of us, plus the musicians who had been crammed in to the studio, now crowded into the even smaller control room were completely silent as Justin nailed the song. Many had deemed “Beth/Rest” too “schmaltzy” on the Bon Iver album. This recording, that we were proud to premiere on the World Cafe, is universally loved and you’ll hear why.

Session Setlist
HOLOCENE
BEACH BABY
BETH/REST

Recent Release: Bon Iver
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Label: Jagjaguwar