Saw Pink Martini at the 9:30 Club earlier this evening, and it was an outstanding show!

I was turned on to Pink Martini by Lunesse, who marveled in the joy that the band brought forth in their shows. Now that I’ve seen them in person, I wholeheartedly concur. The whole band works as a single organism. They constantly communicate with each other in a completely musical language. The notes dance an elaborate step in 3/4, 4/4, 5/8 and 6/4 time, marking their progress with an occasional staccato blast, a swelling crescendo, or a wistful vibrato.

Everybody in the band was genuinely happy to be where they were, doing what they did, soaking in the crowd’s energy and returning it in kind. It was really stunning.

It was also my first visit to the 9:30, and I came away most impressed. My immediate comparison is to Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT, the Webster in Hartford, CT, the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA, and The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. The club has a vibe, even though this is not its original location. However, you can tell the building’s roots as a theatre in the past, and the current owners have sought to create a top-notch musical venue.

They certainly have, as the place is as comfortable and natural a music venue as is possible. The surrounding neighborhood is in transition, with “Little Ethopia” to the south and Howard University to the north. And the venue usually hosts the latest in alternative, punk and rock bands, so having an absolutely packed and electric house for a retro-hip-salsa-cubano-euro-swing band is just plain impressive. The Politics & Prose set mingled seamlessly with the alt set and the young hipsters. As lead singer Chna Forbes noted, “we must be hip if we’re playing the 9:30!” It’s so true, and I’m so pleased to see a non-traditional band from the Pacific Northwest get such a warm reception.