Photo credit: Sean O’Kane / Bowery Presents

Musical theater and spectacle were themes running through Friday night’s concert at Webster Hall, where Fanfarlo and supporting act Freelance Whales played the final show of their six-week North American tour.

London-based pop/folk act Fanfarlo, lead by Swedish frontman Simon Balthazar, commenced their set with a show within a show.  Before the band took the stage, two men came out to lower the light fixtures, while another man began to outfit himself in a straight jacket.  His feet were then harnessed to the lights, and he was lifted up.  While, hanging upside down, he attempted an escape.

The band then came out and began their set with “The Walls Are Coming Down.”  The crowd still wasn’t sure if this was part of the concert, and while Fanfarlo played, our eyes darted back and forth between the band and the high drama hanging from above.  It wasn’t until later that we realized the theatrics were taken from the video for “The Walls Are Coming Down,” in which one of Europe’s top escape artists performs Harry Houdini’s “Hanging Straitjacket Escape.”

Despite the night’s theatrics, which also included wind tubes for the audience to twirl along to the music and a Casanova-masked girl accompanying the band with sign language, Fanfarlo and the songs from their February 2009 full-length debut Resevoir was what truly captivated the audience.  The use of trumpet, violin and mandolin, in addition to more traditional instruments, created a sound that the New York Times has dubbed as “quasi-symphonic indie rock.”

Fanfarlo recognize themselves more as literary rockers, than rock stars, preferring sit down to discuss their latest readings, than head out for a night on the town.  In fact, the band’s moniker comes from a work by the 19th century French essayist and poet Charles Baudelaire.

Wherever they draw inspiration, it’s working.  Fanfarlo is a 2009 breakout act, and Resevoir has reached critical acclaim.  In addition to “The Walls Are Coming Down,” also check out the songs “I’m A Pilot,” “Ghosts,” Luna” and our favorite “Harold T. Wilkins, or How to Wait for a Very Long Time.”

Freelance Whales, the night’s opening act, played the first few songs off their full-length debut Weathervanes in order, before switching up the arrangement.  Mastering instruments we’ve never seen before and interchanging hands, revealing the multi talents of each member, Freelance Whales’ live show was a departure from their recorded sound, which is much more polished and epic.  However, the live renditions still brought the same sense of intimacy their album creates.

The turning point of the set was the song “Starring,” one of their more upbeat tracks.  The audience was hooked and the band members reached a level of comfort – frontman Judah Dadone bantered with the crowd and each member gave a shout out to their native New York – Brooklyn and Queens, among others.

In addition to “Starring,” highlights included the songs “Ghosting,” “The Great Estates,” and the last of the set, “Generator^2nd Floor.”  At the close of their show, the band hugged and snapped a picture of the crowd – a final momento from their tour.

Freelance Whales recently signed to Frenchkiss/Mom & Pop Records, which will re-release Weathervanes in 2010.  Since CMJ, we’ve had Freelance Whales on repeat and recommend picking up the debut album to prepare for more shows in January, including an appearance at Mercury Lounge on January 20th.

Many people have compared both Fanfarlo and Freelance Whales to the likes of Arcade Fire, Beirut and Sufjan Stevens.  At times, we definitely caught glimpses of those soaring, orchestral sounds, especially from Fanfarlo, so we’re expecting to hear a lot more from each in 2010.  Also, the pairing of the two for this tour was very strategic.  Many people in the crowd ventured to Webster Hall to see one or the other, but, as the two complemented each other so well, the audience left loving both.

During the encore, Fanfarlo invited Freelance Whales back to the stage, and Balthazar exclaimed that they were running out of songs to play, so the ensemble decided on a holiday theme – Low’s “Just Like Christmas.”  Fitting for our first snow fall in the city this weekend, where it finally feels just like Christmas.

Fanfarlo – The Walls Are Coming Down

Freelance Whales – Starring

You can download the December mix along with all past months as well as our forthebeat CMJ playlist *for free* by clicking on “telecharger” – just right click, save to your desktop and “open” to play in your iTunes.

Le Miel du Mois: Decembre Track List

1.  Telepathe – Chrome’s On It (Gold Panda Remix)
2.  Charlotte Gainsbourg – Heaven Can Wait (Feat. Beck)
3.  Sébastien Tellier – Divine (Danger Remix)
4.  Mystery Jets – Half  in Love with Elizabeth (Delorean Remix)
5.  Glasser – Apply (Tanlines Remix)
6.  Phoenix – Lisztomania (Alex Metric Remix)
7.  Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone (Three Fingers Remix)
8.  Soko – I’ll Kill Her (JD7’s Killer Mix)
9. Neon Indian – 6669 (I Don’t Know If You Know)
10.  Fool’s Gold – Nadine (Memory Tapes Version)
11.  Holly Miranda – Waves
12.  Kasper Bjørke – Young Again (Edit)
13.  Bloc Party – Hunting For Witches (Crystal Castles Remix)
14.  Freelance Whales – Starring
15.  Glass Candy – Computer Love
16.  Natureboy – Heart to Fool

In about a month, two bands I’m pretty excited to see – Fanfarlo and Freelance Whales – will be playing together at Webster Hall on December 18^th.  Currently on a North American tour, with Fanfarlo headlining, the two will be ending their run together at this NYC show, so get your tickets here.

Fanfarlo, a London-based, 5-piece act, released a few singles before debuting the full-length Reservoir in February 2009.  Queens-based Freelance Whales (later Brooklyn) has been known to play the streets and subway stations of New York, leading up to the release of debut EP Weathervanes.

Orchestral and sensitive, playing a vast array of instruments between the two – including banjo, trumpet, violin, mandolin, sax, clarinet and accordion, among many other traditional and obscure – both bands have drawn comparisons to the likes of Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens and Beirut.  While the buzz is still building, hopefully, as they release more material and tour, the “band-to-watch” status will turn into “band-to-follow” for each.

Fanfarlo – Harold T. Wilkins

Freelance Whales – Generator^2nd Floor