Fanfarlo Play to Sold-Out Chicago Crowd

London-based Fanfarlo has only played in Chicago twice, but both times they've performed in front of sold-out crowds. Riding on the murmurs of their debut record 'Reservoir,' it was no surprise Fanfarlo drew an ebullient crowd to Lincoln Hall Wednesday night.

Gripping a glockenspiel, mandolin, horn, clarinet and melodica, the band assaulted the crowd with an array of mellifluous tunes. Fanfarlo opened with the folky 'Drowning Men' and immediately heads in the audience began to bob up and down. 'I'm a Pilot' generated the same response except with even more applause and swaying. Singer Cathy Lucas took a moment to mention her sister, who lives in the city, was in audience along with her brother, making the night a family affair.

The band did a good job multitasking their instruments, sometimes handling two during one song. Tunes like 'Finish Line' and 'The Walls Are Coming Down' uplifted the venue and got the room stomping, while the horn-infused 'Fire Escape' made the crowd clap along.

Fanfarlo's set wasn't entirely comprised of 'Reservoir' songs, though. Non-album singles 'Atlas' and 'Waiting in the Winds' buoyed the crowd and got their hands in the air. During the two-song encore, the band announced they're releasing a 7" single for Record Store Day on April 17. According to the band's website, the A-side is a song called 'You Are One' (a shorter titled version of older song 'You Are One of the Few Outsiders Who Really Understands Us') and the B-side is a Fleetwood Mac cover of 'What Makes You Think You're the One.'

Unfortunately, the band didn't dive into their Mac cover, but they did perform 'You Are One' to bird chirping sound effects and more glock action. After playing final song 'Ghosts,' lead singer Simon Balthazar promised the audience he and the band would be back in Chicago as early as the summer, which will probably mark yet another sellout for the burgeoning group.