Beat the Devil

Saw these guys when they opened for Vampire Weekend at the Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, January 29, 2008. The trio consists of a drummer, bassist and lead singer who also plays some sort of mesmerizing horizontal accordion. Had a kind of droney gothic vibe elevated by Shilpa's serious pipes and bewildering Karen O meets Elaine Benes dance moves. Dark, bottom-heavy and slightly spastic, Beat the Devil convinced the throng of mostly teenage boys to vent some of their pent up V.W.-adoring energy through sheer force of will. Not sure they're ready for a headlining spot, but if you happen to catch them on the undercard of any upcoming shows you won't be disappointed.