Justin Lane
Brooklyn bummer
Clare and the Reasons keep up cheerful banter with an unappreciative crowd
By Katy Henriksen
Published: December 23rd, 2007 | 1:36am
Dec. 20, 2007, in Brooklyn — Songs from Clare and the Reasons’ debut album The Movie (Frogstand) were the perfect tunes for a cozy late December evening in Park Slope’s Southpaw. Atmospheric, utterly romantic, and coyishly playful, these orchestral jazz-pop-noir tunes were performed to perfection by the full seven-piece band, which reveled sweet subtleties. So sweet the band was, that they kept smiles and pleasantries throughout their short set, albeit a noisy crowd that refused to shut up, even after multiple attempts by lead Clare Muldaur Manchon.
Opening with “Alphabet City,” an homage to a once-gritty turned artsy-yuppie downtown neighborhood in Manhattan, the band immediately made use of its delicate four-part harmonies and string trio of violin, viola, and cello. Immediately they launched into a pizzicato-heavy “Pluto” when Muldaur Manchon’s sing-songy and wide-ranging soprano that feels plucked straight out of a 1930s Parisian cafe really blossomed. Unfortunately, this also was when the band realized the unruly crowd in the back of the club just wasn’t going to keep quiet. When the noise escalated during the third song, Muldaur Manchon spoke up.
“It’s so noisy in here. It’s such a bummer. Those Brits are quieter than Brooklyn people,” she stated in reference of their recent UK tour.
“This song is for all the French people in the audience,” she said to introduce the next song. There happened to be a super cuddly couple conversing in French right beside me. “We love the people who are listening.”
This comment brought a shout from audience, “We’re all listening,” which certainly wasn’t the case, yet the band tried to turn it around by dimming all the lights and performing with flashing headlights worn on each member’s forehead. Twinkly piano accompanied violinist Olivier Manchon — Muldaur Manchon's husband — playing the saw in an otherworldly duet with Muldar Manchon’s melancholy vocals. Even this transporting experience didn’t stop the background banter, forcing the band to trudge on anyway, politely annoyed.
The Reasons oftentimes delighted in their lighter side despite the negative energy, such as when Manchon played recorder and toy xylophone at the same time and when the entire band pulled out kazoos for a song introduced by Muldaur Manchon as a song about bees. In fact, Muldaur Manchon impressively kept up the cheerful banter the entire set, announcing that she’d just come down with a cold, even though she’d tried to hold off until she’d gotten home for the holidays.
“I hope you have a happy holiday. That’s what you’re supposed to say these days,” she said. “Although I wanted to say 'Merry Christmas.' When did that become a bad thing to say?”
Clare and the Reasons persevered, but they didn’t offer the rude crowd an encore, and instead abruptly ended the night with “Cook For You,” which opened with just strings and Muldaur Manchon singing “I like to cook for you in my underwear.” As soon as the song ended the band disappointingly began packing up their instruments, leaving those in the audience who actually were listening ready to hear them at a more appreciative venue.
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