Coachella Photos: DeVotchKa
This sculpture employed basket-weaving on a giant scale
--small pods around the base provided pockets of shade
We did not attempt to take notes or write down the setlist for DeVotchKa. It was mid-afternoon, there was no breeze, and it was very hot. The crowd was packed in front of the Outdoor Stage, so it was difficult to do anything but enjoy the music and take lots of photos over the heads of the tall young men who always seem to be in front of me.
I guess DeVotchka did not see my post about not wearing black at the Coachella. Both lead singer Nick Urata and violinist/accordionist/keyboardist Tom Hagerman were wearing buttoned-up black suits over dress shirts. Jeanie Schroder, who plays tuba and standup bass, was wearing a lovely long-sleeved black dress with red accents on the sleeves. This is all good for the nightclub but bad in plus-100 degrees. Jeanie was standing in full sun with those two heavy instruments. Near the end of the performance, the poor girl must have gotten sick from the heat. I didn't see it, but suddenly she was down, and stage people were running over to assist her. I hope she recovered and was able to enjoy the rest of the weekend.
The two acrobatic Slavic Sisters appeared in the second half of the show, climbing up to the rigging on long scarves. Those gals were dressed properly for the weather! Was I dressed like that? Uh...no.
DeVotchKa, with disco ball hanging overhead, at the Outdoor Stage
Nick Urata croons
Tom Hagerman provided additional gypsy ambiance.
Nick on the theramin, with Jeanie Schroder on tuba.
The Slavic Sisters performed incredible acrobatics!
DeVotchKa: Basso Profundo from A Mad and Faithful Telling (2008)
More songs by DeVotchKa, and look for more of our posts on Coachella 2008
MySpace | Website | Label: Anti Records
Buy at Amazon.com, iTunes, and eMusic
Show Schedule:
DeVotchKa are touring constantly during May 2008, starting in the northwest U.S. and continuing through the Midwest and many east coast cities before returning home to Colorado at the end of the month. Check out their schedule on MySpace.
3 comments:
It is a shame that the festival organizers didn't take the band's set-up into consideration when scheduling them. They have the biggest instruments and a particular style of dress that doesn't jibe well with the midday sun. Alas, they are touring the US now as alt-gamma pointed out, so there'll be plenty of opportunity for fans to see them in more comfortable settings.
i'm seeing them in two weeks, but i highly doubt they will have the slavic sisters with them at this particular venue.
how was the music? did they sound as wonderful live as they do on the records? how was nick's voice?
as you can see, i am extremely interested in all things devotchka at the moment. i need details! :)
Nick's voice was top notch! They sounded fantastic live. Yes, they can duplicate that studio sound onstage. Tom is a wizard on the violin and accordion, and the theramin apparently travels well too. You will LOVE it!
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