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Your family is a band of gypsy rockers? No, it’s DeVotchKa.
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On August 10, the Neurolux looked like home for a group of fans seemingly still celebrating the World Cup Tournament. At other points it looked like somebody’s Eastern European family reunion was taking place, but I assure you, this was not the case.
Even though it looked like your Uncle Tom was playing the accordion with Uncle Nick singing along, Denver band DeVotchKa had actually hit the stage in full force and had fans singing all night.
DeVotchKa has been described as a mix of immigrant dance music, circus rock and gypsy indie rock, and is one of the most musically talented and diverse bands in America in the last decade.
DeVotchKa formed in Denver, Colo., and released their first album, “Supermelodrama” via Cicero Recordings in 2000.
Comprised of vocals, sousaphone, accordion, strings, theremin and drums, DeVotchKa has found a comfortable niche that could make even the most conservative soccer moms tear up during songs like “How It Ends.”
After releasing two more albums, “Una Volta” (2003, Cicero Recordings) and “How It Ends” (2004, Cicero Recordings); DeVotchKa finally made it to Boise during the late summer of 2005 to perform free at the Tour De Fat Festival (a festival put on by Fat Tire beer producers New Belgium) and again the next day at the Neurolux.
This time after their 2006 release, “Curse Your Little Heart,” vocalist/guitarist Nick Urata had an even more intense and mesmerizing vibe.
His dark eyes, dark suit and throaty vibrato could make girls and boys alike completely melt. Nick has an uncanny stage presence that resembles Morrissey, the power to make an audience silent on command and dance as if there were firecrackers exploding all over the floor.
Tom Hagerman (violinist/accordion player) has the look of your uncle, but can play the violin like a finely-tuned heart.
Drummer Shawn King has incredible rhythm for backing up the band.
The true heart of the band for most fans is Jeanie Schroder. Jeanie plays the bass and sousaphone. Jeanie is small in stature, but huge in noise.
The sousaphone is covered in red Christmas lights that lit up while she played. Donning a huge flower in her hair as tradition, she bounced up and down with the music while the crowd sang and clapped along.
The show was sold out and the crowd was mainly dancing singularly, but on each other’s feet.
If you missed the show, hopefully you get another chance to see DeVotchKa, as it’s worth any asking price.
Check them out online at www.devotchka.net and sample their music on Myspace at www.myspace.com/devotchkamusic.com.
Andrea Oyarzabal
