Local punk-influenced collective the Tapeworms opened with an energetic set that recalled a less eccentric variation on the Dismemberment Plan. The band played well to their friends in the crowd, and the set was pretty good, but I found myself distracted by a desire to blast “The Ice of Boston” and shout the words alone in a starlit room. Then again, I’ve lately found myself wanting to do this a little too often.
Richmond outfit KI: Theory followed with an electronica-dominated set that actually rocked pretty hard, as the drummer hammered his kit and a bearded bassist churned out complementary rhythm, with the familiar glow of an Apple notebook there to hold the whole scene together. The band was tight and the stage show effective, with a nice introduction of darkness and digital loops running down to an ocean of wailing vocals and crisp, crunching beats.
But most everyone in the Ballroom was there to dance with the Furnaces, and the Friedbergers quickly broke into material from last year’s Widow City, starting things off with “Navy Nurse.” Eleanor was beautiful if mostly stationary, sporting a fantastic haircut that seemed a perfect extension of early hippie style. She sang with a controlled passion that she contained within the top half of her body, using hands and head to augment her vocals and mirror the frenetic quality of the music as the band fired through the set.
It was refreshing to see a group that actually encouraged crowd participation; the Furnaces asked that song requests be recorded and tossed onstage, as the second part of the set would be determined by popular vote. Fans quickly took the cue and assaulted the band with their favorite songs in paper form. We can only guess how many took this as an opportunity to make a “Freebird” joke that no one really needed. First place ended in a tie, with “Tropical Iceland” garnering the same support as “Chief Inspector Blancheflower”; the latter was one of the night’s high points. It provided a vehicle for the Friedbergers to play off one another, thus giving Matt a chance to capture some well-earned attention. Other highlights included “Blueberry Boat,” “The Philadelphia Grand Jury,” and the lovely “Evergreen.”
In all, the Furnaces put on a fantastic show, effectively showcasing the diversity of their music through both the technical aspects of performance and a song selection that spanned the length of their oeuvre. Two of the group’s best qualities are the quirkiness of the music and the ways they succeed at crafting innovative song structures that always come off as fresh and coherent. They did a much better job of communicating these qualities than they did a couple years back when I watched them try to convert electronic numbers into early New York punk jams. On this night, the electronic element was on full display, and the band showed why they’re one of the most dynamic bands in music today.
