DEVOTCHKA/CLARE and THE REASONS

Last night I went to Webster music hall to see Devotchka, a Denver based indie quartet that merges rock with Russian and Mexican music.

Although the format they use is not common, it serves perfect the repetitive music they perform specially when Jeanie Schroder plays the sousaphone. I was impressed by the versatile musicians in the band because they play multiple instruments and that gives the band a very specific and original sound. A very interesting show, specially when the dancer came out.

The sound was pretty bad;poorly equalized but the energy of the band was enough to make the audience jump and toast with Nick (the singer that sings like Bono).
Clare & the reassons (Pic by Andres Villaveces)
Although I went to see Devotchka I loved the opening act, Clare and the reasons who will perform @ the Abrons art centre on Jan. 31st.
Besides the music, Clare & the reasons have a great visual stage performance, not only because they all appear dressed in red but because they also use simple twinkle lights that combined with their amazing format (string quartet, voice,guitar, bass, xilophone, baroque flute, keys, and tambourine) create an intimate atmosphere.
They performed a baroque-like cover of "everybody wants to rule the world" and I taped it for you, but before you take a look to the video I'll just quote some of their Myspace description, something I find very sureal.
"About Clare and The Reasons
First, Clare writes songs.
Then she brings them to the Reasons' test lab. There, the songs are submitted to a series of intense treatments and tests until they become what some people call: "lush and sinfully beautiful". This process named in the scientific community "Reasonitis Polymorpheus Synthesis" or RPS, lead to the making of "The Movie" (Frogstand Records) their debut album. (no known side effects. FDA approval pending).

But who is this Clare anyway?

She was born on the island of Martha's Vineyard, in a vegetable garden amongst the most incredible tomatoes grown by her mother Sheila. Her father, music innovator Geoff Muldaur, introduced her to artists such as Mildred Bailey, Bessie Smith and Sam Cooke. Clare rode hundreds and hundreds of horses and listened to these inspiring musicians on her walkman while working in the barn.

One day, she rode her horse all the way to Berklee College of Music. With a handsome scholarship she was able to study jazz arranging and composition. There, she met now long time collaborator Olivier Manchon. On their first encounter, he made her cry and then they got married."