The Magnetic Fields

Went to see The Magnetic Fields yesterday. I wasn't too familiar with their music, and I had absolutely no idea of what they looked like. When they started to walk out on stage I thought it was the stagehand or something. And I don't think I was the only one. People didn't stop talking before Claudia Gonson started to talk.. By then they had already been sitting by their instruments for a little while.. Well except for Stephin Merritt who had to go backstage again, because he forgot his little ukulele. No wonder - it's tiny. My friend couldn't stop laughing in the beginning, cause she thought it looked so funny..
They kind of looked like a tiny chamer orchestra - dressed like music students..or an Irish folkband..
It was quite different from what I had expected. (I've only heard them on cd before) It was much more quiet and still than I had imagined it would be.. There was very little movement - on stage and off.. Actually, it was the first seated concert I've been too. Which I enjoyed - cause I didn't have to stand on my toes the whole evening..
There were times where I thought it was beginning to be a bit monotonous. My mind started to wander and I was thinking that I should be home studying for the exam.. But then they played a song I wanted to hear, or pulled out a pez dispenser and discussed the racism in the latest star wars movies.. and it was all good. But I think my friends were bored out of their minds. Only they are too polite to say so.. I did warn them that it was a bit different from the things they listen to..
They played for about 1 1/2 hours I think. Can't remember the set list. But here is a few of the songs they played:
A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off
Come Back From San Fransisco
I Don't Really Love You Anymore
All The Umbrellas In London (one of my favourites)
I Wish I Had An Evil Twin
I Thought You Were My Boyfriend
Reno Dakota (which got the biggest response of the evening)
Papa Was A Rodeo (singalong..)
And they came back for two encores:
Yeah! Oh, Yeah! (Dramatizised by Sthepin and Claudia)
I Die

I really enjoyed the band that opened for them as well. The Real Tuesday Weld. http://stream.qtv.apple.com/qtv/Jazzonline/sixdegrees/video/bath_300.mov
Kind of old swing bandish mixed with new popelectronica.. Brilliant light show during 'Life and Times of the Clarkenwell Kid'