This most recent February 5th, my brother J.C. and I attended the Crooked Fingers/Devotchka concert at the Clubhouse in Tempe. This was a monumental event for me for two reasons. First, because it was the first time I didn’t have to road trip it down to Tucson to see Crooked Fingers, something I’ve done at least four times in the past. Second, they were playing with Devotchka, a band I’d become enamored of in the last year or so. It was my first time seeing Devotchka in concert but not, however, the first time I saw Crooked Fingers playing with Devotchka in concert.

The story goes like this. It was early 2008 and Crooked Fingers was once again coming to Tucson to open for a band I had never heard of (Devotchka). Those of us who made the pilgrimage down south were J.C., Marshall, Jordan, and myself. A Glass Brothers’ night out – minus our last brother, Mitchell. We got our sushi fix at Tucson’s supernal all-you-can-eat Sushi Hama, as tradition dictated (It’s really hard for me to go down to Tucson and not eat there), then off to the concert. After Crooked Fingers’ short but sweet performance there was an overly long wait for Devotchka, who I was calling “The Dostoevskys” at the time, to take the stage. Jordan, fresh from his mission in the West Indies and not yet fully acclimated to civilian life, was growing more disconcerted about being around a lot of people, in a small bar, with loud music. Plus it was getting late and we still had a 2 hour drive ahead of us. It was proposed by one of my brothers that we go home before Devotchka’s performance. I didn’t want to. I wanted to get my money’s worth and possibly discover a new band. Ultimately I conceded and we left early, but not before I gave them this warning, “If we go home and I found out Devotchka is awesome . . . I’m going to be so mad at each of you.”

The next morning I went to Devotchka’s Myspace page and sampled their music. I’ve yet to forgive my brothers for making me go home early. Shortly after, I bought the soundtrack of Little Miss Sunshine to listen to on the way back from an LA trip. And then later I shared How It Ends as my choice for a Music Night.

Devotchka’s lead singer, Nick Urata, has a strangely evocative voice. I feel sad when I hear it . . . even on their more upbeat songs. His voice makes me think of black velvet paintings of matadors with large ornate wood frames painted gold. It makes me feel like I’ve lost something. Something cultural. If you haven’t checked out Devotchka I highly recommend them. However after the concert it was confirmed to me that I like Crooked Fingers more than Devotchka. Crooked Fingers is a band that I fell in love with instantly when my brother J.C. first introduced me and I have been trying to convert others to their music ever since . . . with no success, I might add. Check them out and, please, love them as much as I do.

Here is one of my favorite Crooked Fingers songs New Drink for the Old Drunk.

The Crooked Fingers Official Web Site
The Devotchka Official Web Site