Grizzly Bear Leave London Spellbound on Halloween

There may have been a distinct lack of costumes, pumpkins, and candy-hungry kids but Grizzly Bear's orchestral return to London was still quite a magical experience.

Playing in the auspicious surroundings of the UK Capital's Barbican Centre, the Brooklyn, N.Y. quartet treated their fans to a long sold-out show backed by the London Symphony Orchestra. "Does this feel as fancy for you as it does for us?" asked multi-instrumentalist Chris Taylor as he surveyed the grand hall from a stage dressed with glowing glass lanterns. Well Chris, it's not like Spinner gets to hang out in places like this much either.

Tonight's show was Grizzly Bear's latest classically enhanced concert, having played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008 and earlier this year at the Brooklyn Academy of Music with orchestra parts arranged by Nico Muhly.

Composer Muhly -- renowned for his collaborations with Bjork, Philip Glass and Antony and the Johnsons -- was also on stage at the Barbican wearing coat tails and manning the grand piano.

The sweeping strings, brass flourishes and augmented percussion added power to the Grizzlies' joyful harmonic pop, particularly on 'While You Wait For The Others' and 'I Live With You' from 'Veckatimest,' drawing two standing ovations from a rapturous crowd. As the band closed their set with a rendition of 'Colorado,' the London audience was left to consider this spookily assured Halloween collaboration an absolute treat.