Off to see some rock, kids and yes it is like 2 degrees outside. All the more reason to rock harder to shake off the cold AND TTs now serves hot booze infused cider so that helps as well!
First band up was local four-piece The Painted Lights. I had the pleasure of catching the last few songs of their set. They kind of reminded me of some parts Afghan Whigs, some parts Sheila Devine, which is never a bad thing. The band came together to create a tight emotional cadence. The vocals came in soaring and strong, pulling the whole thing together. They're playing Hynes Convention Center as part of First Night 2010 so if you are planning on getting a button put it to good use and make sure to check out their set.
The next band was Brooklyn’s Freelance Whales. Maybe it was their outfits or the lead singer's articulate intellectual banter, but they were pretty friggin' hip. Over the course of the show, four members of the five-piece band jumped around to varying instruments. At one point they were playing something that kind of looked like a metal lamp with a bow; at another point a xylophone, an eclectic banjo or one of the five keyboards they had on stage while still managing to hold down the guitar, bass and drums fort. Which I have to say was pretty impressive in itself, and to top it all off it all came together with a musical tightness. Four out of the five band members also sang. I could see why this Brooklyn-based band might have a thing or two over some of their competition in such a competitive market. They had homemade buttons that Doris (the bass/metal lamp thingy/xylophone/keyboard player) created. Tons of fans knew the words to the songs and were really into the set. Their music was kind of like a really catchy synch infused hoedown and it had a vibe all its own. They will be back to Great Scott on January 19th so if you are wondering where every hip kid in the city is going to be on that night you can put your money on Great Scott.
I have been rocking out to Fanfarlo's Reservoir in its beautiful entirety for the past few months and was excitedly awaiting this show. I was sure it will be the first and last time I'd get to see this band in such a small venue. I am pretty sure they are bound for greatness the same way The Decemberists were.
The band is London-based with a Swedish frontman. Their record was recorded in Connecticut by the same guy who produced The National and Interpol (Peter Katis). The band hit the stage with all eight members, a tight fit for TT's, and it was just all out bliss from there. Well worth the wait and the trek over to TT's in the cold. Fanfarlo are masters of the catchy, well placed melody that takes you somewhere in your mind like you are traveling or time is standing. All the instrumentation is meticulously placed, melding together to create something bigger. Simon’s vocals were delivered with an honesty you can’t fake. Him and Cathy’s vocal played so nicely off each other live. The packed house was connected and moved along with the music, singing and head bobbing as much as us Boston folks do. At some point they threw out “whirly tubes” (plastic tube noisemakers ) into the audience for fans to play. The whirly tubes added a cool kind of ambiance to the room. Simon even played Clarinet on one song, which was awesome (I used to play Clarinet in middle school, still a big fan of Clarinet usage in rock songs). Every member of the band was inspired and tight with their playing.
There was no dip in intensity for the whole set. I was star-struck, my heart was lifted. I felt like I was part of something. In the same way that Band of Horses, Arcade Fire, and The Decemberists transport you somewhere when you see them, Fanfarlo does as well. Their music has a movement and a place. Their record will surely continue to turn heads in 2010, and if you have a chance to catch them, I urge you to go and be transported.
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