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Devendra Banhart and the
Hairy Fairy Band at Webster Hall
My parents werent hippies. Sure, my dad has a few Frank Zappa albums in his closet and my mom, well, she likes Simon and Garfunkel. But, I cant imagine my parents ever breached the topic of communal living, peace on earth or free love. So, when I find my short haired, beardless self howling like a freak to Hey Mama Wolf, I feel a bit like a pretender. But, as they say, the spirit moved me. And apparently the group of mostly beardless, bra-toting New Yorkers howling at the Bowerys Webster Hall felt at home as well. On a tour following the recent release, Cripple Crow, Devendra Banhart stopped at Webster Hall, brought along the Hairy Fairy band, and showed the depth and scope of his psychedelic folk rethink. The circus on stage (with one to thirteen musicians at any given time) and countless mood swings in style, centered and gelled by Banhart, gives merit to the claim that this is a movement, not just another folk band. Banharts wavering voice, which sounds most at home in Spanish (probably due to his Venezuelan upbringing), guides the music through the ballad, Quedate Luna, along with poppy psychedelic Long Haired Child, and howling with the crowd on the warm, fuzzy folk of Mama Wolf. The varied musical influences give the music an unearthed feel that is only amplified by Devendra and the Hairy Fairies long hair and bearded approach to fashion. Banhart and the Fairies are at once intensely familiar and restlessly creative. Banharts approach to unearthing and melding influences takes the songs far beyond what could be a nostalgic rehash of Guthrie or Dylan. Its like finding home in an old folk song that youve never ever heard, Banhart sang alone on stage Still you know every damn word, and for sure you can sing along.
Devendra Banhart Official Website Check Amazon, Insound and CD Universe to purchase music by Devendra Banhart
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