04-29-2008, 07:17 AM
I subscribe to a couple music magazines, 'Paste' and 'Under the Radar'. Included with the magazines is a sampler CD of bands I've never heard of, some of whom are quite good.
Devotchka is one of those.
Devotchka's claim to fame is providing the score to 'Little Miss Sunshine'. I saw the film but don't recall the music all that well, or why people liked the movie for that matter.
The song on the sampler CD was 'Transiliterator'. It starts with a bouncy little keyboard riff that erupts into strings and guitar. I played it over and over (till Dee Dee made me stop). When I saw that they were coming to the Fillmore I snapped up tickets immediately.
The show was sold-out. The crowd was an eclectic mix of punks, hippies, students and middle-aged hipsters like me. After a short set by the somewhat boring Bhatia Bulat we watched as roadies set up the tuba, upright bass, viola, violins, accordion, guitars, bazouki and theramin. That's right, Devotchka has a theramin!
Eventually the lights turned red and Devotchka took the stage. The vocalist/guitarist wailed in an angelic voice, somewhat reminiscent of Roy Orbison. The music was a cross between Mexican Caballero and Eastern European marches, Venetian waltzes, Elvis Presley and Marty Robbins. Their stage presence reminded me of Arcade Fire. Seven or eight people completely overwhelming their environment.
The musicians were frenetic, bouncing between instruments and trying not to trip over the gear on the small stage. At one point two aerialists came out and performed a dazzling and dangerous-looking routine on hanging drapes. They did that tedious Cirque-du-Soleil stuff but at lightning speed and in a tiny area.
Devotchka will definitely be on my 'see as often as possible' list.
Hideous poster. A new low for The Fillmore. I'll post a picture later. Meanwhile, click here and listen to some tunes!
Devotchka is one of those.
Devotchka's claim to fame is providing the score to 'Little Miss Sunshine'. I saw the film but don't recall the music all that well, or why people liked the movie for that matter.
The song on the sampler CD was 'Transiliterator'. It starts with a bouncy little keyboard riff that erupts into strings and guitar. I played it over and over (till Dee Dee made me stop). When I saw that they were coming to the Fillmore I snapped up tickets immediately.
The show was sold-out. The crowd was an eclectic mix of punks, hippies, students and middle-aged hipsters like me. After a short set by the somewhat boring Bhatia Bulat we watched as roadies set up the tuba, upright bass, viola, violins, accordion, guitars, bazouki and theramin. That's right, Devotchka has a theramin!
Eventually the lights turned red and Devotchka took the stage. The vocalist/guitarist wailed in an angelic voice, somewhat reminiscent of Roy Orbison. The music was a cross between Mexican Caballero and Eastern European marches, Venetian waltzes, Elvis Presley and Marty Robbins. Their stage presence reminded me of Arcade Fire. Seven or eight people completely overwhelming their environment.
The musicians were frenetic, bouncing between instruments and trying not to trip over the gear on the small stage. At one point two aerialists came out and performed a dazzling and dangerous-looking routine on hanging drapes. They did that tedious Cirque-du-Soleil stuff but at lightning speed and in a tiny area.
Devotchka will definitely be on my 'see as often as possible' list.
Hideous poster. A new low for The Fillmore. I'll post a picture later. Meanwhile, click here and listen to some tunes!
![[Image: magpie13.gif]](http://imagegen.last.fm/LastfmLiveJournal/recenttracks/magpie13.gif)