Devendra Banhart Performs With Little Joy and Tim Kinsella

Posted on Nov 17th 2009 10:00AM by Garin Pirnia
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In support of his new record, 'What Will We Be,' idiosyncratic singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart deployed his backing band, the Grogs, at Chicago's Vic Theatre on Monday night. Comprised of Little Joy's Rodrigo Amarante (who contributed to Banhart's last record, 'Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon'), the band resurrected Banhart's diverse discography of freak-folk and classic rock.

"Here's one from my favorite band, Little Joy," Banhart exclaimed as he slipped away from the spotlight and allowed Aramante to take over the mic and sing 'No One's Better Sake' from Joy's self-titled debut. Later, Banhart called upon opener, Chicago's own Tim Kinsella (Make Believe, Joan of Arc), to perform one of his guitar-centric songs. Kinsella joined the band on a few more songs throughout the unpredictable and wildly entertaining 90-minute set.

Not only were the incessant "You are beautiful" and "You're so hot" cat calls from the females in the audience amusing, but Banhart himself turned out to be quite comical too. After playing new song 'Can't Help but Smiling' and popular acoustic number 'Little Yellow Spider,' Banhart mentioned the alternative name for the Grogs was Doom Fist 3D because he wanted to see the name on the marquee. This became a running joke when Banhart finally announced that would be the official new name of the band.

Banhart sang a couple of songs in Spanish, most notably 'Brindo' from the new album, and when he played the ballad 'I Remember' on the keyboard, he apologized to the crowd, saying "This sounds f---ing bad. I don't think I can play." Near the end of the set, he brought out his acoustic guitar and played a couple of oldies including 'Charles C. Leary' from his first record of the same name and a cover of Johnny Thunders' 'You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory.'

During the final song 'Rats,' a lone girl jumped onstage and began dancing, then another brazen girl joined her and just like that, 20 audience members -- a couple of whom wore Indian headdresses -- stormed the stage in an impromptu love fest. Unfazed, Banhart almost seemed to relish the frisky behavior and kept playing, but the security guards sent the audience back to the pit after a couple of girls hugged Banhart. The band left the stage and a shirtless Banhart emerged for encore 'I Feel Just Like a Child' with security at close range. When the song ended, an exhausted Banhart said "gracias" to the crowd and walked offstage, echewing any more tomfoolery for the rest of the night.