Banhart illuminates Berklee Performance Center

One may have assumed the entire audience around Massachusetts Ave. would have consisted solely of flower clad, patchouli wearing, twenty somethings, but this was not the case. Standing at the stage, one could see that the audience for Devendra Banhart’s Friday night show ranged in age and attire-though yes, many flower and bead wearing individuals were present. Despite this, the show seemed to have attracted a vast and still varying group of music lovers.

Devendra Banhart and his band, the Grogs, performed at the Berklee Performance Center Friday night to a lively and well received audience. At one point during a rather upbeat song, an audience member jumped up from his seat and began to dance. And, no, it was not a Berklee student.

Banhart and the band maintained a friendly and laid back mood during the show, starting out the evening with tunes such as "Long Haired Child" and newer compositions such as "Baby" and "Angelika".

It was refreshing to see a lead singer who acknowledged his band members’ talent, and let various members showcase their own songwriting and singing skills as he explained that all of his band members are his favorite songwriters. Props to Devendra for not having ‘lead singer syndrome’, and even more props to the entire band displaying complex musical talent.

At times the performance sailed along at a lower key as songs such as the newer, powerful "Last Song for B", and Banhart’s slightly revised "Little Yellow Spider" (Banhart was practicing his edited version for the next day’s performance for Yo Gabba Gabba Live! In New York), to the wildly cheered on "Carmensita" and "Rats", which one audience member described as ‘heavy’, but noticeably sparked a sea of head bobbing, arm waving audience members.

As gracious and personable performers, the band also received a standing ovation at the end of the set and was strongly encouraged for the encore.

As Banhart thanked the audience and expressed his gratitude for playing at the music school’s performance center, it was apparent that thanks and gratitude were also exuded from the audience – a very happy and energized audience.