Tag Archives: Fanfarlo
Try to Win Tickets to See Fanfarlo
December 16th, 2009Their reputation preceded them. Fanfarlo has earned comparisons to Arcade Fire and Broken Social scene, probably because they employ overlooked instruments in the indie-rock world, like the mandolin, trumpet and violin, and because of their swelling anthems. Simon Balthazar (vocals), Leon Beckenham (trumpet), Justin Finch (bass), Cathy Lucas (violin), Amos Memon (drums) and Mark West (guitar) came together as Fanfarlo mid-decade in London. And through a series of singles, the Internet and their frenetic live shows, word of mouth got out. So people knew to see the band before they’d even heard the band. Since their debut full-length album, Reservoir, came out this year, it’s even easier to hear the band. And now you can see them because Fanfarlo (above, playing “The Walls Are Coming Down”) plays Webster Hall on Friday.
They’re definitely worth checking out. And to prove it, The House List is giving away two tickets. Fill out the form below, listing your name, e-mail address, which show you’re trying to win tickets to (Fanfarlo, 12/18) and a brief message explaining why you deserve to cut loose for free on Friday night. The winner will be notified by noon on Friday. Good luck.
An Excellent Opening Night of CMJ
October 21st, 2009Fanfarlo – Music Hall of Williamsburg – October 20, 2009
(Photo: Daniel Perlaky)
Fanfarlo. These kids, hailing from London, Sweden and Belgium, really blew me away as the headliners for last night’s Brooklyn Vegan showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg. While they’d recently played there, I didn’t get a chance to see them, and since I’ve been listening to Reservoir off and on all year, I had high hopes for their live show. I was not disappointed! They started off the night with an acoustic version of “Drowning Men,” with just lead vocalist Simon Balthazar and Cathy Lucas, who played the mandolin. Immediately after, the rest of the band entered and Balthazar broke a string. Undaunted, they launched right into their next song, which sadly lacked the group’s usual robustness due to the missing string.
Luckily, CMJ hosts a friendly crowd and Marcus Mumford (playing tomorrow at the Merc) kindly stepped in and offered his own guitar. It was a huge help for Fanfarlo, and then they let loose. Now I can tell why their fans are so rabid: This band’s music is not in and of itself unique, but they pull together sounds from different eras, drawing in histories, and they utilize a number of instruments not usually given leading roles in popular music. The resulting sounds, played with great energy, made it impossible to resist the driving momentum of their songs. My favorite of the night was “Luna,” because Lucas brought out the saw. She played it so well that it sounded eerily human, natural and yet not. All in all, very impressive and well done. —Anna Loosli
CMJ Music Marathon Starts Today!
October 20th, 2009
The CMJ Music Marathon starts today, and The Bowery Presents has plenty of choices for you with multiple shows all week long at The Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge and Music Hall of Williamsburg. Check out what some of the people at The House List are most excited to see:
Having had “Crystalised” playing on repeat for at least two straight weeks, it’s an understatement to say that I am looking forward to watching the xx perform at CMJ (Music Hall of Williamsburg, Friday). I have also heard there is some great hair I should try to catch on camera. ZAZA is on the wish list because I have yet to witness the atmospheric magic spun by my enchanting friend Jennie. I’ll also try to make the Screaming Females show (Mercury Lounge, Wednesday). I saw them last on Valentine’s Day, when that itty-bitty girl shredded her guitar into itty-bitty heart-shaped pieces. Her vocals hark back to the Dead Kennedys, which wins my deepest reverence. —Mina Kim, Photographer
I’ve got a list of bands I will try to see, among them Bang Bang Eche, an energetic electro-rock group from New Zealand. Check out their new single, “Fistful of Dollars,” and you can catch them around town on Wednesday. (Plus they’ve got shows next week at Music Hall, October 26th, and Mercury Lounge, October 27th.) Fanfarlo’s dreamy melodies and aching lyrics should be a big hit this year. They’re playing Music Hall tonight and The Bowery Ballroom tomorrow. The other group I am desperate to see is School of Seven Bells—playing Music Hall on Friday—who will blow your mind live. This band put out one of my favorite albums last year and is definitely worth checking out if you can make it. —Anna Loosli, Writer
I’m most excited for two Bowery Ballroom shows—Deer Tick on Thursday and then Portugal. The Man on Friday. I must admit that I love Deer Tick. With their tight songwriting and loose live performances, they’re a must-see band every time they play NYC. I’ve only had the chance to see Portugal. The Man twice, at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, but each time I’ve found them eminently listenable and intriguing, and not just because of their strangely punctuated band name. —R. Zizmor, Editor
Even a Venue Change Can’t Stop Fanfarlo
September 22nd, 2009Fanfarlo – The Bowery Ballroom – September 21, 2009
Fanfarlo, a group of prog-folk, Arcade Fire-lite Brits, inspired a ticket-buying run on last night’s show, which forced a venue change, from Mercury Lounge to The Bowery Ballroom, only to sell out the bigger venue. More simply, this band filled the room with five times the amount of people as were originally expected. It’s like making reservations for six but having 30 people show up. Frankly, you had no idea you had this many friends and multiplication is never a bad thing.
The band opened with “Drowning Men,” a normally thudding meditation on status. Just three band members performed this haunting, stripped-down version of the original. But three became four and then five and six as the full band spilled onstage for the second song, “I’m a Pilot.” It was a relief, but specifically it was like a surprising clown car of multi-instrumental musicians. The band then played “Finish Line,” unironically near the beginning, and the elevating “Harold T. Wilkins….” The show was built backward to the finish.
All this funneled down to the last song of the set (Fanfarlo then played two encores). As the nominal closer, “Luna,” stomped and bucked to its finish, the lead singer began by slamming an auxiliary drum at the front of the stage and ended the night with a solo on clarinet. It was a moment that showed range, and the crowd was happy to move along with the band. You could see what was happening—it was onstage and all around, times five. —Geoff Nelson
