Brightest Young Things

all photos: Joel Didriksen

I was tired Monday night.
I had a long weekend following a long week and when Christina lost her wallet and her phone and it turned out that I was going to go write this show up, I was none too pleased.
I'll admit to it.
But Joel was excited as hell, and I STILL have Charango on my Ipod (and it is a very small ipod, so not much survives months, let alone years) and Federico always seemed like he would be wonderful live, and so hell, I said OK.

First of all, there was a clear age divide between 930 and DC9 this Monday.
While DC9 had its youth group appeal, 930 Club was filled with 30 something year olds, a lot of them with accents, a lot of them on dates, a lot of them in love with Morcheeba since day one.
And true love never dies.
I had a plus one which I didn't know about, and my group texting to have someone come out and see me (usually not that big of a problem, I swear) resulted in:
"i'm doing laundry"
"i'm asleep"
"i'm at Digitalism"
"They're still around?"
and several no responses

Because, you know, my friends are in their 20s, and it was a Monday.

Anyhoo, their loss.

First up: Federico Aubele
Federico is part of ESL's stable of talent and is tall, has lots of curly hair that would shame even Will Sharp and plays a guitar. He is also from Argentina and the music is like a slightly more progressive Jose Gonzalez cocktail of delicious ear candy.
I love it.
You'll love it too.

There is absolutely nothing about it not to love: the masterful acoustic playing, the swirls of electronica that don't sound like electronica, the warm, breathy voice, the humbleness and good spirit.
It is the cure for all that ails you.
Trust me.
Also, remember when I made my "crying in a taxi cab" playlist and said that crying is just better in Spanish?
Well, Federico proves that right.
He also proves that love is better in Spanish, and sadness, and dancing and a few other things.

Natalia Clavier (who herself is a dreamy solo artiste) provided some female vocal support and by the time they swept into "Maria Jose" towards the end, with the space already packed, there was a couple front and center doing that whole slightly disturbing back to front, hand over your lover's neck swaying that you only do in your kitchen with your boyfriend. Or if you're starring in "Ghost".
But they did it in public.
Because they didn't care.
The music made them do it.

then it was Morcheeba Time

Joel informed me early on (he's a superfan!) that only one of the brothers is in town because Paul does not travel anymore.
Add a new singer to the mix and you have very little remnants of the "original line up".

Still, as much as I miss Skye, it is very obvious that as long as a swirly girl vocal is in place, Morcheeba will not lose its course, no matter who the swirly girl vocal belongs to.

Now, as I said, I've always been a fan.
I'm not too big on the whole loungey-trip-hop movement in general, but I LOVE Morcheeba.
And I think it is because they play this sort of sunnier, adequate-for-the-beach-as-well-as-the-club version of this (inherently) dark(ish) genre.
I mean, their first single from "Dive Deep" is called "Enjoy the Ride"
I like sunny.
I like enjoying my ride.
I like Morcheeba.

They are also a band that the 930 club's sound system did justice.
It all melded perfectly together in a cacophony of music you wish you could either:
1. raise your hands and 90s style sway to
or
2. wear a caftan, lounge on a couch in Morrocco and have someone feed you grapes too.

Also, they played "Otherwise" as their second song (see above), as I swear, that made my week. Everything was milk and honey after that.

Previously in Live DC:

• 5/24: LiveDC: The Adicts @ RNR Hotel
• 5/24: LiveDC: The Donkeys @ Black Cat
• 5/23: LiveDC: The Barr Brothers w/ Kishi Bashi @ The Hamilton
• 5/23: LiveDC: Damien Jurado @ Black Cat
• 5/23: Report: Soundbites 2012
• 5/22: LiveDC: Spirit Animal @ Red Palace
• 5/22: LiveDC: Astra Via @ Black Cat
• 5/22: LiveDC: Father John Misty @ Rock & Roll Hotel
• 5/22: LiveDC: Drive-By Truckers and Lucinda Williams @ Merriweather
• 5/22: Photos: Summer Camp takes the "Ladies of Town" Drag Show