For those looking for resolution, the reflective nature of Karl Wallinger’s lyrics were as an inspirational start to the year as his richly melodic tunes were for those simply wishing to dance and celebrate.
Never one to downplay his affinity for 1960’s song structure (this evening he copped the McCartney bit from “A Day In The Life” during “Call Me Up,” encouraged an impromptu rendition of Syd Barrett’s “Effervescing Elephant,” and stole a lyric from The Who for “Sunshine”), this leader of World Party is nonetheless a true original.
In keeping with the relaxed, playful nature of the evening’s party atmosphere, Wallinger spouted, “Whoever makes the loudest sound wins!” As the audience predictably shredded its vocal chords, he wryly added, “I was making a general comment about politics.”
While the show took life with stunning renditions of World Party’s most popular tunes (“Way Down Now,” “Put The Message In The Box,” “Ship Of Fools”), the night belonged to gems culled from the band’s latest offering “Egyptology.”
“It Is Time” was an appropriate opener just a few minutes into the new year, while the crystalline ballad “She’s The One” was so grand in beauty even the drunken revelers had to take notice. The set was neatly bookended by “Always,” a gentle lullaby of a groove guided by a tape loop melody that sweetly played on through the acoustically challenged ballroom after the band had left the stage. A performance this sublime was a celebration beyond that reserved for the evening itself.
Abra Moore captivated the crowd early in the night with her colorful, buoyant pop. Moore and her crackerjack band deftly proved there’s more here than the single “Four Leaf Clover,” and offered up as evidence a killer rendition of “Strangest Places” and a soaring vocal display on “Never Believe You Now.”
There was the sullen air of time passing The Smithereens by. The set opener, “Only A Memory,” seemed a somber harbinger for a band unable to cough up anything even remotely timely or relevant for the new year.
