A few weeks back I saw (heard) the Bowerbirds at the Independent- it was a great show and I meant to write it up then, but life got in the way...
Julie Doiron opened, but I procrastinated a little leaving the house and only caught the last two songs in her set. She played guitar and kind of wandered around the stage (away from her mic, I wonder if that's part of her style?) and there was just one guy on drums (and then guitar) accompanying her. The music didn't quite grab me, but I loved her guitar and she struck me as an interesting person, kinda spunky.
So I obtained an overflowing gin and tonic from the bar and sidled my way up close to the stage while waiting for the main act. I got about five feet from the stage, and I probably could have gotten right up and leaned on it if I wanted, but I didn't. The Independent is just the right size I think, maybe half to two-thirds the size of the Fillmore, so it's intimate but roomy enough. I understand they've recently upgraded their sound system quite a bit.
Then the band came out, and I'm pretty sure they started off with "In Our Talons" and played a great set from there. It took me two or three songs to realize that the main singer, Phil, was playing a classical guitar (must have been the g&t), and it took me until last week to figure out that his voice reminds me of Andrew Bird. The only girl on stage, Beth, played the sexiest accordion I have ever seen, and I mean that in the most complimentary sense. There was also a guy on stage alternately playing a mandolin and a guitar (I think) and another fellow playing drums and some sort of electronic bass-note device that occasionally made sounds at the right frequency to cause the stage to vibrate and buzz. The band seemed to be having a good time, and I thoroughly enjoyed the show, only kicked my drink over once, and bought a CD at the end of the night. Good times!
