By Delia Pansecu
Far from Manhattan’s safest neighborhood, the Bowery at night is an amalgam of shuttered business and textile shops. But not even the dreariness outside could stop fans from flocking to see Of Montreal.
The initial audience was scant for Chicago-based openers The M’s, whose 30-minute, slightly tinny set recalled The Beatles.
After a short break, Pittsburgh natives Grand Buffet took the stage. The act was the opposite side of the spectrum in terms of genre, with two rappers beginning a silly set that turned political, criticizing corporate America. They progressed past controversial to downright shocking, diffusing their lyrics with manic energy that served to hype up the audience.
Of Montreal took the stage to an ecstatic audience. Kevin Barnes, the band’s front man, appeared in a wedding dress that didn’t quite fit and asked the audience to marry him.
Decked out in adorable outfits and a ridiculous amount of eye-glitter, the band played hits from their newest album The Sunlandic Twins. They also threw in a few songs from their previous release, Satanic Panic in the Attic, including favorite like “Chrissie Kissed The Corpse.”
Even though the band has been around for over a decade, they’re only now gaining recognition, a fact evidenced by the size of the crowd at the Ballroom.
The brain behind the group is Kevin Barnes, an Ohio native who formed the band in the very hip Athens, Ga. Since its founding the band has seen several different members come and go, and their style has changed from a mellower indie sound to one that’s more up-beat and dancey.
Their nearly hour-long set continued as the audience danced, partially because the beat demanded it, and Barnes hydrated himself with a bottle of champagne – a detail that seemed all too appropriate for a show that began with a wedding and ended as a celebration.

Of Montreal draws a crowd.