Devotcka rollcall

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

One of my favorites tonight, for some reason at the State Theater. I'd have thunk the Black Cat a better match, but I'll take a non-smoking show with seats any time I can get it. State Theater is non-smoking, right?
 
 Talk about hard working bands. This is their third night on a string of 13 straight one-nighters (and 17 of 18).

[eltee]

I would love to, but State Theatre is so iffy with their start times, and duty calls early tomorrow. Yes, St. Theatre is non-smoking.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

So there's a good chance the opener won't go on until after the 8:30 advertised show time?
 
 

Originally posted by The Cooler:
  I would love to, but State Theatre is so iffy with their start times, and duty calls early tomorrow. Yes, St. Theatre is non-smoking.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

This guy loved them as much as he hated Wolfmother a couple of weeks ago.
 
 DeVotchKa
 
 DeVotchKa used to describe its sound as "Eastern bloc indie rock," but happily, the Denver quartet proved much more than reheated Balkan reels and Pavement-style dynamics during its sumptuous set Wednesday night at Falls Church's State Theatre. The group played with a passion and instrumental prowess that were thoroughly invigorating.
 In truth, any label sells DeVotchKa short. Drummer Shawn King did thump with post-punk drive and was often surrounded by a lineup of sousaphone, violin and bouzouki. Singer Nick Urata played the latter as well as acoustic and electric guitars, but it was his singing -- an upper-register melange of Roy Orbison, Jerry Vale and Bryan Ferry -- and his stage persona -- drunken groomsman crossed with Dean Stockwell in "Blue Velvet" -- that created DeVotchKa's indefinable vortex. The violin (and accordion) of Tom Hagerman provided the melodic zest in songs such as "Queen of the Surface Streets" and "We're Leaving," but it was the cohesive sweep and instrumental interplay that turned them from pleasant to crowd-roiling.
 So Gypsy reels, violent violin scrapes and bowed upright bass were injected into the Velvet Underground's "Venus in Furs," Siouxsie and the Banshees' "The Last Beat of My Heart" and a tingling remake of Frank and Nancy Sinatra's chestnut "Somethin' Stupid."
 But originals such as "How It Ends" were the most thrilling: a sense of epic drama swept away with expertly played, otherworldly drive. Urata's stylized vocals were simply a kiss on the forehead of a startlingly entertaining performance.
 -- Patrick Foster

[ggw]

I think we could have predicted Foster's opinion before the show even occurred.
 
 Look for him to have an orgasmic review of Katie Melua in a couple of weeks.

[eltee]

Sorry, I didn't see your question until today. A few times I've been to State Theatre, no, the opener hasn't gone on at the advertised set time. However, could have been those particular shows.
 
 Out of curiousity - what time did they end up playing?
 And, did you enjoy the show? (I didn't go)

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I think they advertised the start times at the door as 8:45 and 9:45. I think both bands went off maybe 10-15 mins late. Not bad.
 
 First, let me say my thoughts on the show were tainted by the State Theater. The sound there absolutely sucked. It was too loud, and too muddy. I remember why I haven't been there since the 90's.
 
 Devotchka was good, as always. I think they were better in Vancouver and at the 8x10, probably because of the sound issues. Also, it was the third time I had seen them in 10 months, and they are the type of band whose show gets a bit repetitive.
 
 Norfolk and Western showed some potential. They sounded like Dean Wareham fronting Camper Van Beehtoven. Alas, they were hampered by the poor sound quality as well.
 
 At least there was no smoking.
 
 I was surprised, there was quite a big crowd.

[eltee]

Thanks for the review. Perhaps they'll return somewhere smaller such as Iota. Good to hear your show went on in a timely manner. The two shows I attended, I waited and hour for the opener..the delay probably due to the weekend hours.

[mrpee]

quote:
 Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 Look for him to have an orgasmic review of Katie Melua in a couple of weeks.
 
 Detached amusement is my normal reaction when someone on this board ---my favorite D.C. music forum---posts a review of mine and it is bandied about. But the above quote just goes too far. I'd just like to say I have no special devotion to female singer-songwriters. I endeavor to treat the Locust with the same impartiality as Kat Parsons or Amy Rigby--and have. Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I have to go get the oil changed in my Cabrio then come home and put a quiche in the oven.

[HoyaSaxa03]

<img src="http://homepages.bw.edu/~gwalton/funnies/files/owned.jpg" alt=" - " />

[ggw]

ha ha ha
 
 Awesome.....