Devotchka

Walking up to up to the First United Methodist Church of Iowa City, we first took note of the very friendly, hand painted signs reading, “Devotchka.” Signs decorated with smiling suns and rainbows, as if made by a group of children, set the mood of a night that would be both fun and inspiring. Entering the sanctuary of the church it was difficult not to take in the beauty of a place so meaningful to so many people. The colored lights dancing on the pipes of the old organ and stained glass windows only helped incubate the overall peaceful mood of the crowd. While the architecture, with high-arched ceilings, set the scene for possibly the best sounding indoor show I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend.

The sheer variety of talent possessed by each individual in the band, with three members playing at least three instruments and a drummer that doubled on trumpet, had me completely amazed. The way they can put it all together in such a seemingly perfect way just blew me away. As calm and peaceful as the entire vibe may seem, I need to make a point that the reason everyone in attendance was standing had nothing to do with the comfort, or complete lack-there-of, of the church's pews. The band had us running on “high” throughout the show. Whether it was high energy during the accordion driven barn-burners, or the high emotion and feeling of the ballads.

From the first, elegant violin-solo, until the last cymbal crash finally reached the tip-top of the center tower, Devotchka was nothing short of amazing. A very fitting affiliation of religious spirit and original music that equated to not only an amazing concert, but an amazing experience of which the sights and sounds will not be soon forgotten.

S.O.B.