The band's fifth album shows influences of the Arizona desert with producer Craig Schumacher (Calexico, Neko Case) to create a compendium of short stories inspired by the varied moments the band experienced since the release of A Mad & Faithful Telling (Anti-, 2007).
Like many bands, DeVotchKa spent much of their early years traveling the highways and byways searching for gigs and a musical direction. As time went on, the band began to foster important musical collaborations with the unequivocal Calexico and the seminal gypsy punks Gogol Bordello. International tours with Gogol and recordings with Calexico have helped spread the band’s sound around the globe.
Originally a backing band for burlesque shows, in their early years DeVotchKa also toured with fetish model Dita von Teese. Numerous nationwide tours in support of self-released records earned the band an underground following. Their song "How It Ends" introduced the band to a wider audience after being featured in the trailer for Everything Is Illuminated, in a Gears of War 2 trailer called "The Last Day", and in an episode of Everwood (Season 4).
Arcade Fire singer Win Butler suggested to DeVotchKa that they cover the Siouxsie and the Banshees song "The Last Beat of My Heart". The musicians found the idea interesting and they recorded that song for the now critically acclaimed Curse Your Little Heart EP. The band did a world tour in support of their previous album, A Mad & Faithful Telling (released March, 2008). The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 29 on the Top Independent Albums chart.["New World" and "Head Honcho" were featured in a season 4 episode of the Showtime television show Weeds.
DeVotchKa's first big break happened when Nic Harcourt, former music director for KCRW, introduced his listeners to a then unknown rock band of worldly sounds on his daily radio show, "Morning Becomes Eclectic". Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, who were listening that day, stumbled upon the sound for their movie, "Little Miss Sunshine". A critical and box office hit, the film was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and, for DeVotchKa's soundtrack, a Grammy. The little gypsy wedding band from Denver was suddenly known all across the US, playing large venues and major music festivals, including Coachella, Bumbershoot, Lollapalooza, and Mile High Music Festival. After years of toiling in obscurity, the band was selling out shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco and First Avenue in Minneapolis, with breakout performances at Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits Music Festival. The love spread to Europe, which has become a yearly destination for the band.
"100 Lovers" is the album DeVotchKa had always wanted to make. "How it Ends" was recorded and mixed in only nine days, mainly due to lack of funds. On "A Mad and Faithful Telling,” the band had more time and conducted complex arrangements and experimental recording techniques. For "100 Lovers", DeVotchKa spent over a year defining their sound, taking multiple trips to the desert studio to craft twelve new recordings. The final product is the bands strongest album to date, filled with songs fans will love, songs to draw in new listeners, and exciting numbers that fit nicely into their rousing live sets. Guests on the album include members of Calexico and Mauro Refosco, David Byrne and Thom Yorke’s go-to percussionist. With a full tour lined up for the spring and dates booked all over the world, 2011 is gearing up to be the biggest year for DeVotchKa yet.
DeVotchKa is:
Nick Urata: Vocals, guitars, Theremin, trumpet, piano
Jeanie Schroder: acoustic bass, sousaphone
Shawn King: drums, percussion, trumpet
Tom Hagerman: violin, viola, accordion, piano
The Man from San Sebastian
DeVotchKa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To co-conspire commiserate
All it takes is a little bit of love and an awful lot of hate
Is it real?
Does it exist
I know it's wrong
But who am I to resist
All I want is one more time
Some of yours and some of mine
I don't want to spoil the fun but am I the only one who sees what's going on
Am I the only one who remembers the man from San Sebastian
It's just a few more miles
I'll make it smooth and worth your while
Oh don't look so nervous man
We're just here to lend a hand
I don't want to spoil the fun but am I the only one who sees what's going on
Am I the only one who remembers the man from San Sebastian
Am I the only one
Am I the only one
Am I the only one
Who remember the man from San Sebastian
From San Sebastian
From San Sebastian
Am I the only one
Am I the only one
San Sebastian
Am I the only one
Who remember the man from San Sebastian
From San Sebastian
From San Sebastian
The lyrics of DeVotchKa's "The Man From San Sebastian" are filled with ambiguity and uncertainty. The first verse seems to suggest that it's never too late to join in with a group of people who are commiserating over something, whether it be out of love or hate. The second verse brings up the question of what's real and what exists, indicating a certain level of skepticism on the part of the singer. However, despite recognizing that something is wrong, the singer admits to being unable to resist it. The chorus repeats the question of whether the singer is the only one who sees what's going on and remembers the man from San Sebastian.
The lyrics suggest a sense of disorientation and confusion, pointing to the themes of memory, nostalgia and possibly even disassociation. The repeated question of whether the singer is the only one who remembers the man from San Sebastian creates a sense of isolation and distance from others, adding to the overall feeling of ambiguity and uncertainty. It's possible that the man from San Sebastian may be a symbol for a past experience or distant memory that the singer can't quite grasp, but that still haunts them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh it's never too late
It's never too late to start doing something.
To co-conspire commiserate
To come together and share grievances and plot to carry out something.
All it takes is a little bit of love and an awful lot of hate
All it takes to be successful is a small amount of love and an enormous amount of hate.
Is it real?
Is it genuine?
Does it exist
Does it have a physical presence?
I know it's wrong
I am aware that it is not right.
But who am I to resist
But what authority do I have to reject it?
All I want is one more time
All I want is another chance.
Some of yours and some of mine
Some of what you have and some of what I have.
I don't want to spoil the fun but am I the only one who sees what's going on
I don't want to ruin the enjoyment, but am I the sole person who comprehends what is happening?
Am I the only one who remembers the man from San Sebastian
Am I the single person who recalls the man from San Sebastian?
It's just a few more miles
It's only a short distance left.
I'll make it smooth and worth your while
I will make it easy and beneficial for you.
Oh don't look so nervous man
Don't appear to be so apprehensive, man.
We're just here to lend a hand
We are just here to offer assistance.
Am I the only one
Is it only me?
From San Sebastian
Refers to a location in Spain.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A Grimm Situation
DeVotchKa deserves way more recognition
Benjamin Jantzen
Bravo. Great job with the vidoe guys - Go DeVotchka from Denver!
it5ju5talx
This guy's voice is awesome
Carole Robinson
Fantastic video. Great song. Wonderful production of both. Now becoming my favourite DeVotchKa song (and there are a lot to choose from). Thanks for making me smile!!
br0v0
Thanks for putting out an awesome song!
Anthom's Channel
Great music!!! Keep this up!
01babyxflip
Omg, this song is soo epic!!!!!!
Andrea Carrillo
Me gusta el coro de la canción y todo el general, pero mi favorito es el coco pero la verdad me encanta todo
La casa del alfajor
Klaus
Awesome footage of Industrial Denver!...Goes great with the beautiful music!
Aaron
Epic moped chase and brilliant tune..