DeVotchKa + Beta Love @ Le National

Le National was pretty full Tuesday night, which wasn't too surprising seeing how DeVotchKa is one of those bands that you must experience in a live setting! Their name was inspired by the 1971 film "Clockwork Orange," the term means young girl or lady; lady being the more fitting name. The band members exude an edgy classiness; the violinist was decked out in a suit, their tuba/upright bassist was dressed in a pretty dress (yes it's a 'she') and the lead singer and the drummer were also dressed up for the performance.

One of the many reasons why DeVotchKa's sound is so interesting is because it reaches out to people of all ages. Older couples swayed alongside teeny bopper pre-teens and twenty- and thirty-somethings danced enthusiastically - beer in hand, of course.

It's hard to describe what sort of music DeVotchKa creates...you could say it's a mix of classical music fused with gypsy punk and indie lyricism. Actually, who am I kidding... DeVotchKa has no genre. Their music is simply for those who appreciate exotic sounds, classical instruments, and catchy beats. This four-piece band gets even the non-movers to tap their feet and dance.

Unfortunately, the wait was not at all fun. The venue ran perfectly on time but the opening band, Beta Love was a bit bland, slightly off key and a teensy bit pretentious for DeVotchKa fans. It made the night seem much longer than it was. There was a point in which people were sitting on Le National's creaky floorboards, grimacing. One woman was actually holding her hands over her ears. Someone joked that the only people dancing were the drunk and the tone deaf... By the time Beta Love ended their set, people were filing out of the venue for alcohol. It wasn't good.

However, back to DeVotchKa! This is a band you want to see perform live; Their albums are great, but seeing and experiencing them onstage is something entirely different! From the moment the band walked on stage, they captured everyone's attention. They thanked Montreal for their hospitality and for listening to all their new songs. The show was amazing, and though their new album is great...nothing beats seeing them perform these songs live!

DeVotchKa is energetic but not wild, and loud without being too noisy. These guys are professionals and their music is infused with cultural sounds stemming from the Mediterranean and European parts of the world. Though DeVotchKa is a four-piece band, it looks as though they've added an extra member! He played drums and keyboards all night. Yes, there were two drummers onstage - it was pretty awesome!

They played a lot of new songs off their most recent album, 100 Lovers; one track in particular, “The Man From San Sebastian,” had a great effect on the audience. A woman disguised in a goat mask danced behind the stage as her silhouette was projected onto large screens and replayed in slow motion. It was very beautiful to watch. DeVotchka's entire show included animated vignettes that went along which each song they performed, it created a very ethereal setting and it whisked the audience away. If you get the chance to see these guys perform live, you must take the opportunity and go to the show! It's so very worth it.

-Abby Schachter hosts The Reaktor on Fridays from 2-4pm