Ihave no idea how the members of Mother Falcon managed to fit into Great Scott. The Austin, Texas based crew squeezed fourteen musicians and instruments on what could very well be Boston’s smallest stage. Finishing up their headlining tour in support of You Knew, the diverse group brought a chaotic energy to town that is downright rare these days. With so many acts turning towards electronic minimalism (which is awesome in its own right), Mother Falcon take the path less travelled and pile on over a dozen acoustic instruments (including a bassoon!) into their indie pop/rock songs.
After they broke up their set with a beautiful cover of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android,” I realized that while I really enjoy some of the group’s original tracks, their take on other artists’ music is equally interesting. With such a large arsenal of styles they can bring to the table, they are more prepared for interesting covers than most.
One of the most exciting things about a band this large and varied is the enormous flexibility that is gained from having so many instruments in play. If they want a song to have a more rocky feel, they can let the guitars and keyboards take the lead. They can put the brass up front for a big band sound, and let the stringed instruments shine when they are feeling classically-inspired. This variability allows their songs to have vastly different sounds, with the uniting features of energy and chaos. Playing material from their new release and 2010’s Still Life, members switched instruments and roles with ease, singing and playing keyboard one second, and bowing a cello the next. It is this shifting of sounds that keeps their live show interesting. On record, their tracks can be hit or miss, with certain standouts like “Dirty Summer,” “Marigold,” and “To Mama” taking most of my attention. Live, however, each song’s unique qualities come to light as you watch sections of the group fade in and out with each transition. All in all, they have the energy down; their show is a fun raucous time. With fourteen musicians trying to play all at once, however, they need to tighten up their show a bit more in order to become an act you can’t miss.
