San Fermin at the Village Underground

What a lovely surprise at the Village Underground last night! San Fermin burned the venue with a fired live performance, managing to engage even the spoiled local audience.

Forget everything you think you know about them based on their pop baroque records: onstage the band are an indie pop, almost free jazz machine with horns and drums. For an entire hour the band played the best songs from their record with a new arrangement – a more jazzy and aggressive approach to music, which transformed the tracks into something more enjoyable. While on record the band are more reflective and confidential – absolute US folk – on stage they show muscle and rhythm, hypnotising the crowd with pyrotechnical games.

There were seven people on stage: two vocalists (the equally good Allen Tate and Charlene Kaye, both with different personalities and characteristics), several horns – baritone sax, trumpet, sax – plus a violin, keyboards and drums…enough musicians to form a marching band actually. The single Sonsick is an explosion of music in the shade of Arcade Fire (the name that jumps to mind several times during the live show), while Torero is brassy and original. Casanova is beautiful and eloquent, while Cruler Kind reminds us of our Fanfarlo.

The best aspect of their live performance how much fun the band has onstage, how much love they give to what they’re doing, which is something genuine and remarkable. This love is well perceived by the audience, who were entranced all night long.

Lorenzo Cibrario
Photo: Taylor Ballantine

For further information and future events visit San Fermin’s website here.

Watch the video for Sonsick here: