Regardless of what it’s described as, Devendra Banhart’s music is freeing, and his show at the Manhattan Center’s Grand Ballroom in NYC on September 27th was a stellar performance from a great songwriter and his band. Devendra, along with his California collective that includes such talented artists as Andy Cabic and Noah Georgeson, played for two hours and pulled heavily from his latest release, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon.
The first half of the set was marked by a gradual build-up, and featured gentle cuts like “Quedate Luna” from Devendra’s previous release, Cripple Crow, and “So Long Old Bean,” from Smokey. Devendra informed the crowd early on that they were “only just warming up,” and in between songs, he even joked with the locals a bit. “I want to thank you all for coming . . . . To all the young folks who made it out tonight – Hello, Brooklyn.”
Later on, Devendra pulled out his trademark, sunburst Gibson guitar, and treated the crowd to a beautiful rendition of “It’s A Sight to Behold” from his 2004 release, Rejoicing in the Hands. From there came “Seahorse,” a Smokey highlight that starts out simple and tender, then segues into a movement comparable to Coltrane’s version of “My Favorite Things,” before exploding into a heavy jam that on this night featured terrific guitar work from Georgeson, Cabic, and Devendra himself.
By then the lid had busted off of the jar, and Devendra and company turned out the dance floor while the crowd cut a rug to cuts like “Carmensita,” which was accented by Devendra’s tongue-rolling español, and “Lover,” a slinky little number with a wide-assed groove.
Rather than boring the crowd with a lengthy intermission during set break, he instead continued the tradition of inviting an audience member to the stage to play a song of their own creation. A lovely young woman by the name of Dana bravely took to the stage and performed for the crowd while Devendra and company rooted her on from the sides. Upon returning to the stage, the band floored the audience with a sterling rendition of “Hey Mama Wolf,” the deep cut from Cripple Crow, being performed for the very first time.
The night ended with a version of “I Feel Just Like a Child” that set the roof on fire. Running on all cylinders, capturing the essence, and seizing the moment – Devendra Banhart was as charming and captivating as his aura suggests he is.
The first half of the set was marked by a gradual build-up, and featured gentle cuts like “Quedate Luna” from Devendra’s previous release, Cripple Crow, and “So Long Old Bean,” from Smokey. Devendra informed the crowd early on that they were “only just warming up,” and in between songs, he even joked with the locals a bit. “I want to thank you all for coming . . . . To all the young folks who made it out tonight – Hello, Brooklyn.”
Later on, Devendra pulled out his trademark, sunburst Gibson guitar, and treated the crowd to a beautiful rendition of “It’s A Sight to Behold” from his 2004 release, Rejoicing in the Hands. From there came “Seahorse,” a Smokey highlight that starts out simple and tender, then segues into a movement comparable to Coltrane’s version of “My Favorite Things,” before exploding into a heavy jam that on this night featured terrific guitar work from Georgeson, Cabic, and Devendra himself.
By then the lid had busted off of the jar, and Devendra and company turned out the dance floor while the crowd cut a rug to cuts like “Carmensita,” which was accented by Devendra’s tongue-rolling español, and “Lover,” a slinky little number with a wide-assed groove.
Rather than boring the crowd with a lengthy intermission during set break, he instead continued the tradition of inviting an audience member to the stage to play a song of their own creation. A lovely young woman by the name of Dana bravely took to the stage and performed for the crowd while Devendra and company rooted her on from the sides. Upon returning to the stage, the band floored the audience with a sterling rendition of “Hey Mama Wolf,” the deep cut from Cripple Crow, being performed for the very first time.
The night ended with a version of “I Feel Just Like a Child” that set the roof on fire. Running on all cylinders, capturing the essence, and seizing the moment – Devendra Banhart was as charming and captivating as his aura suggests he is.
