The Middle East Downstairs is one of my favorite concert hangouts, mostly because there’s a chance of picking up a falafel sandwich if you arrive early enough. And also it’s just cool to tell your friends “Hey, I’m going to the Middle East for a concert.” Not only do you sound educated about world affairs, but friends might also conclude you keep a Concorde jet in your back pocket just for such international-sounding concerts. Boston fans of The Fiery Furnaces, however, needed only to take the Red Line to Central for a local concert at an exotically named venue.
The Bodega Girls: Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady
The Bodega Girls opened first, to lack-luster enthusiasm. No one listens to the first band of the night, and unfortunately The Bodega Girls had tough work to engage that most apathetic of beings, the Boston hipster. Not even the fact that The Bodega Girls were Boston locals could move these New Englanders from their cool impassivity. Lead singer Evan Kenny finally took matters up a notch and jumped off stage during “She’s Into Black Guys.” Apparently, the situation called for a dance off, and even maracas were handed round. And whether it was because the beers had started to kick in or because the Boston hipster had finally been impressed, we shall never know. But people finally started to dance.
Hallelujah the Hills: Folk Rock Run A-Muck, Where’d the Cello Go?
Next up was Hallelujah the Hills, also Boston locals. I had high hopes for these guys, especially since they travel with a cello, horn, keyboards and acoustic guitar. And when they opened with “Nurses 5 Float Past,” with its quick triple-syllable rhymes, I was all ready to listen to a Decemberist folk rock knock-off. But I was wrong, because then the fast guitars kicked in, and we were off on a wild ride. A ride which would have been less bumpy if the band had been more together that night. Don’t get me wrong: I love horn riffs, vigorous cello attacks, and group shouting choruses. But the sound was so blurry in the live performance that it was hard to tell these elements were even there.
The Fiery Furnaces: Brother-Sister Duo Turn to Slow Jams and Retro Blues
But all disappointments were forgotten when Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger took the stage. The brother-sister duo appeared alongside Bob D’Amico on drums and Jason Loewenstein on bass. Whatever struggles the previous bands had encountered with audience response or ensemble cohesiveness melted away for these veterans. This band was tight. Matthew on guitar eyeballed Jason on bass for every single cue. And the breaks for solos were perfect as the other musicians dropped down to let the soloist shine.
The set list mostly promoted their newest album I’m Going Away, as well as including several songs from their 2007 album Widow City. The Fiery Furnaces have traveled through many musical styles, but Eleanor’s declamatory vocals and crisp delivery remain a dependable constant. Their more recent albums have moved away from the keyboard-dominated Bitter Tea (2006), and now evoke a retro-blues and slow-jam feel, perfect for milking those bass lines for all your money’s worth. “The End Is Near,” played somewhat deceptively near the beginning of the set, really showcased this new direction.
Also, I’m amazed at how this band can pack so many time signatures into one song without the audience losing its lunch. Songs like “Lost At Sea,” rather than making me queasy, kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering where we were going next. The band maintained tight control over some pretty hectic rhythms.
I should probably say something critical in closing, just to prove I’m keeping my opinions objective. But then I would have to make something up. So I end by saying I’ll definitely be near a record store on July 21st to add I’m Going Away to my music collection.
