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[title]Hundreds of concertgoers checked online to see if Belle and Sebastian's show would even take place last night, due to a supposed tropical storm. As it was, folks watched the Scottish indie heroes in nothing more than a bit of a breeze—and what a treat the two-hour show was. For their first on U.S. shores in six years, B&S are plugging an excellent new album, Write About Love, and the set featured a number of cuts from the record, plus a glorious bunch of oldies (hits, sorta, such as "The Boy with the Arab Strap," and B-sides like "The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner").
B&S formed back in 1996—a fair while in pop history—but age hasn't diminished the band's charms one jot. "Are there any baby Belles here?" asked singer Stuart Murdoch, requesting that "second generation" fans in the crowd identify themselves. He said he sympathized with how boring pop shows can be as a kid, and threw autographed rugby balls out into the crowd. Later, Murdoch invited a clutch of eager fans up to the stage to clap along to "There's Too Much Love to Go Around," and awarded them each a medal after the song. To some, it's the kind of cute gesture that invites High Fidelity--style mockery (check that still-funny clip after the jump)—but to the thousand or so fans at last night's show, it was just lovely.
Set list after the jump
Belle and Sebastian at the Williamsburg Waterfront Set list
I Didn't See It Coming
I'm a Cuckoo
Step Into My Office, Baby
Like Dylan in the Movies
I'm Not Living in the Real World
Piazza, New York Catcher
I Want the World to Stop
Lord Anthony
Sukie in the Graveyard
We Rule the School
Another Sunny Day
The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner
Write About Love
There's Too Much Love
The Boy with the Arab Strap
If You Find Yourself Caught in Love
Judy and the Dream of Horses
Sleep the Clock Around
Encore:
Me and the Major
Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying