Fanfarlo ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

It’s doubtful Fanfarlo could’ve expected much from the first date of their first ever U.S. tour. Playing halfway around the world from their native London in the smallest of the cities on their short tour, Seattle must undoubtedly have been considered a wildcard appearance for a foreign band who’s debut album Reservoir isn’t even physically out yet in the States. By the time Fanfarlo took to the stage though, Seattle had asserted it’s identity as a music town and come out in force to appreciate this young band (and on a Monday no less).

They began with a stripped down version of “Drowning Men” in which lead singer Simon Balthazar was only accompanied by a violin and drum, an arrangement that stood in contrast to the recorded version’s full band breakdown and expansive harmonies. Under normal circumstances the song is driving and has Arcade Fire written all over it, but as the set opener, doused in red light and voiced with simple soft strumming, it’s lyrics had a plaintive quality I’d completely missed before. As the rest of the band filled in for “I’m a Pilot,” the stage lit up, strings of flags and party lights strung across the ceiling. Any effects of the mentioned jet-lag were limited to a slow start that was quickly forgotten in the succession of uplifting melodies and heavy back-beats.

More than just in sound, their playful spirit also recalls my first experience with Arcade Fire, a band who evinced making music as unbridled fun. Trumpet, singing saw, violin, handclaps, and melodica all had their places, with Balthazar even taking an enthusiastic turn at the clarinet for the last song of the main set. Even they aren’t bouncing around drumming each others brain’s out on stage, through the lights and flags, through the jauntier than expected live delivery, and their generally smiley attitudes, the songs and performance just jump off the stage. I have to heartily agree with +1 (my roommate) in his comment that this is exactly the kind of band I myself would want to be in.

Given the mere nine or so songs they played, jet-lagged or no, an encore was definitely in the offing. Nobody was leaving and everyone was clapping and expecting something. Promptly arriving back on stage, plastic tubes were handed out to the crowd to twirl above their heads, an opportunity for the audience to whimsically provide the high-pitched background hum for “Ghosts.” It worked out better than I could have imagined (though the taller members of the crowd were probably not all that endeared by a constant threat to their head from all sides). After some mulling over requests, “Fire Escape” was decided as the second song of the encore.

Even after the house music came up, earnest chants of “One More Song! One More Song!” rung out until the band came back for a second encore. I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw something like that with a new band like this. Seattle had proven without a doubt it was no longer a wildcard. And in a sense, right off the bat during their first tour of America, so had Fanfarlo.

Reservoir arrives in stores September 29th, but you may be able to find it at various digital retailers right now.

Fanfarlo ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Fanfarlo ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Flickr: Fanfarlo at Chop Suey