Before last night’s unusual duo show at World Cafe Live, it had been four years since we last saw Fiery Furnaces at North Star Bar. Admittedly, I haven’t paid the same attention to their two most recent studio albums, as I have to them in the past. However, between 2003 and 2007, I saw them at least half a dozen times in various cities (including shows in Montreal and Washington, DC). During this period, they were one of my favorite bands, with 2003’s Gallowsbird’s Bark (still my favorite of all their releases), 2004’s Blueberry Boat, 2005’s EP compilation of singles and 2006’s Bitter Tea all being stellar releases. Listening to all of them and 2005’s nothing-quite-like-it Rehearsing My Choir during the few days before the show, I noted that not only has their early catalog stood the test of time, but that they’ve forged a willfully singular and prolific path when so many others in their wake have either broken up, disappeared or made concessions to current trends. Matthew Friedberger and his sister Eleanor Friedberger, however, march to the beat of their own drummer.
This applies to their live shows as well. While many of their shows in the past have future almost thrash-speed, intensely fast-paced, medley versions of the songs from their catalog, this show was unusual for them in its utter simplicity. Featuring just Eleanor (one of the most underrated vocalists in indie rock) on lead vocals and Matthew on piano and backing (and occasional lead) vocals, this was Fiery Furnaces stripped down to the core. At times, especially since they were still soundchecking when we walked in, it felt like we were intruding on either a rehearsal or some sort of other private performance. In a venue that’s perfectly suited for such an intimate performance, though, this felt just right and not creepy or intrusive in any way.
They tackled songs from throughout their entire catalog, with much coming from Blueberry Boat (“Straight Street,” “Chris Michaels,” “1917,” “Wolf Notes” and a stripped-down, much shorter version of the title track were played on this evening). However, I also counted at least three songs from EP (“Single Again,” “Here Comes the Summer” and “Evergreen”) and at least four from Bitter Tea (including “The Vietnamese Telephone Ministry,” “Nevers” and the incredible “Waiting to Know You”) as well. During “In My Little Thatched Hut”, the small but receptive audience clapped loudly. I had no idea that it was a hit amongst fans. After an hour and a half (albeit no karaoke section, as had been promised in descriptions for this short tour), they came back out and did “Inca Rag/Name Game” from Gallowsbird’s Bark, the only time they touched that album on this evening. This was my only slight disappointment to an otherwise very enjoyable evening.
Like with most of their shows, this was unlike anything I’d seen them do before and it was nice to reconnect with them after time away from the fold. The next time they come and play here, I fully expect something completely different yet again.
