Devotchka at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver

Devotchka at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, March 4, 2011. Photo by Dasha Lushnikova

Photos – Devotchka at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, March 4, 2011

– photos by Dasha Lushnikova

Devotchka played the Commodore Ballroom March 4 in support of its fifth album, 100 Lovers. Photographer Dasha Lusnikova reports:

“Over a decade-long career the Denver-based band has created a style so unique that to describe it one has to be more than just familiar with the attributed Romani, mariachi, Balkan, and Slavic musical stylings… Hearing the band’s new tunes proves further that, although it does borrow elements from folk, Devotchka’s music falls under a category of its own.

Devotchka at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, March 4, 2011. Photo by Dasha Lushnikova

“Expecting the band’s best-known song, the Miss Little Sunshine soundtrack hit ‘How it Ends’ to be the show’s highlight, I was instead carried away by songs from the just-released new album. 100 Lovers has a number of unforgettable crowd-moving accordion, tuba, and violin fusions contrasted with crisp string breaks and soothing whistling.

“Perhaps this rich sound layering made lyrics somewhat difficult to understand when heard for the first time. The vocals smoothly became an essential part of an atmosphere of the endless dream-like allusions created during the show. With a switch of a song the crowd was thrown from melancholy sways and swirls to delirious gypsy party dancing, making the two hours fly by unnoticed.”