Without knowing who DeVotchka is, one can get easily fooled into thinking they are a big band. Quite the contrary. There may have been a dozen or so instruments on stage at Bowery Electric, but only 4 members are in the band. However, pretty much all of the instruments were utilized throughout the show, some musicians even played two instruments during one song (not at the same time, though). The Denver, Colorado band is best described from their biography as a "multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble that fuses Romani, Greek, Slavic, Bolero, Mariachi music with American punk and folk roots." Surely these are some talented musicians.
DeVotchka features Nick Urata on vocals, guitars, piano, trumpet, theremin, bouzouki; Tom Hagerman on violin, accordion, piano, and Melodica; Jeanie Schroder on sousaphone and bass; and Shawn King on drums, percussion, trumpet, accordion, and organ. For those unfamiliar with some of the instruments: the sousaphone is a type of tuba seen in marching bands, a theremin is an electronic musical instrument that makes sounds when its senses motion, and a bouzouki is a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and long neck used in modern Greek music.
It was neat seeing the members switch instruments. Nick switched from guitar to bouzouki to thermein. Jeanie switched from bass to tube. Tom from keys to violin to acoustic. John from drums to trumpet. The band played a well-crafted brand of tunes that was easy on the ears. The set included 15 song plus two encores. The band played two covers "Venus in Furs" by The Velvet Underground and "I Cried Like A Silly Boy" by Ted Thacker. A bunch of the songs were from the band's latest album, 2008's A Mad & Faithful Telling. Some songs were "The Clockwise Witness," "Head Honcho," and "Undone." They played just over an hour set with a wonderful two song encore.
The Bowery Electric packed in over 100 fans who bought tickets and contest winners for an evening featuring DeVotchka that was presented by Paper Garden Records. The show was a last minute addition between the band's opening gig for Gogol Bordello, who performed a CD release at Brooklyn Bowl for their new album, Trans-Continental Hustle.
Devotchka Setlist:
It was neat seeing the members switch instruments. Nick switched from guitar to bouzouki to thermein. Jeanie switched from bass to tube. Tom from keys to violin to acoustic. John from drums to trumpet. The band played a well-crafted brand of tunes that was easy on the ears. The set included 15 song plus two encores. The band played two covers "Venus in Furs" by The Velvet Underground and "I Cried Like A Silly Boy" by Ted Thacker. A bunch of the songs were from the band's latest album, 2008's A Mad & Faithful Telling. Some songs were "The Clockwise Witness," "Head Honcho," and "Undone." They played just over an hour set with a wonderful two song encore.
The Bowery Electric packed in over 100 fans who bought tickets and contest winners for an evening featuring DeVotchka that was presented by Paper Garden Records. The show was a last minute addition between the band's opening gig for Gogol Bordello, who performed a CD release at Brooklyn Bowl for their new album, Trans-Continental Hustle.
Devotchka Setlist:
1. Alley
2. Basso Profundo
3. Queen of the Surface Streets,
4. Venus in Furs (The Velvet Underground cover)
5. The Clockwise Witness
6. We're Leaving
7. Poland
8. Head Honcho
9. Along The Way
10. International
11. I cried like a silly boy (Ted Thacker of Baldo Rex cover)
12. The Enemy Guns
13. Undone
14. Enda
15. Looser
Encore:
16. Such A Lovely
17. The Oblivion
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