I saw Clare & the Reasons, at the suggestion of AC Entertainment’s Ashley Capps, at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Tex. The band’s haunting-yet-buoyant orchestral pop filled the high-ceilinged sanctuary, casting a spell.
Clare & the Reasons are Brooklyn-based collaborators/front people Clare and Olivier Manchon with other contributors. It’s Clare’s voice — Kate Bush-powerful/angelic/sweeping/ethereal tempered by enough Cyndi Lauper quirk to make her approachable — that garners the first listen. But everything that’s going on behind Clare — the pummeling drums, the cellos, violas, kazoos and saws — is what keeps the listener listening.
According to the group’s Facebook page, their new album KR-51 was recorded in Germany and written in Berlin during spring and summer 2011. It was released this spring; the resulting tour brings the band to the LAB on Wednesday, June 6. Ten Cent Poetry opens. 9 p.m. show, $10.
Listen to “The Lake”:
This should be a great show. I interviewed Clare Muldaur-Manchon in advance of the show; that feature is here: http://blog.billkopp.com/?p=797
This should be a great show. I interviewed Clare Muldaur-Manchon in advance of the show; that feature is here: http://blog.billkopp.com/?p=797