Earlier this year, we reviewed the 5th album in Elbow‘s phenomenal 20 year career. While topping the charts in the UK, the band have yet to break the elusive American market. On Saturday night, the British rock quintet played a two hour show at The Greek, and it was fantastic to see how big the crowd was.

To start the show, Denver based band Devotchka lit up the stage with their gypsy/cabaret folk. Everyone in the band demonstrated their virtuosic talent by playing multiple instruments throughout the captivating set. Nick Urata, the handsome frontman, swaggered on stage with a bottle of wine and enchanted The Greek with his performance. By the time “How It Ends” was played, everyone was swaying and singing along.

After a quick intermission, cheers from the crowd rose as Elbow entered the stage. The charming and funny Mancunian frontman Guy Garvey raised a red plastic cup to the crowd and started the set with “The Birds.” Garvey has this soothing and wonderful voice that sets them apart from many in their genre. The band treated the audience to a spectacular mix of new tracks from this year’s Build a Rocket Boys! and tracks from 2008’s The Seldom Seen Kid and 2005’s Leaders of the Free World. Garvey illuminated the Greek with funny stories about why they wrote their songs and had everyone swaying their arms side to side.

As this year also marks the band’s 20 year anniversary, Guy Garvey along with the rest of the band were given birthday shots, toasting to two decades of music. The Greek got with the spirit and even sang Happy Birthday to them. With such a great career in alternative rock, it’s nice to see Elbow finally getting the attention they deserve in the America.

Elbow Setlist:

The Birds
The Bones of You
Mirrorball
Neat Little Rows
Grounds for Divorce
The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver
Great Expectations
The Night Will Always Win
Puncture Repair
The River
Lippy Kids
Weather to Fly
Open Arms

Encore:

Starlings
Station Approach
One Day Like This

All Photography by Pamela Lin