Belle and Sebastian, the band voted Scotland’s greatest band over such notables as Franz Ferdinand and Travis, during their first excursion to Nashville, Tenn., took to the stage with instantaneous fervor and crowd adoration as they broke into the jaunty “The State I’m In” from their gorgeous debut Tigermilk.
This kicked off Stuart Murdoch and company’s sprawling 20-song set full of soulful funky “twee pop.”
Belle and Sebastian were versatile and cohesive most of the night as band members exchanged one instrument for another and harmonies soared with only a minor setback as violinist/keyboardist/vocalists Sarah Martin’s out-of-tune drone marred “Sukie In the Graveyard” and “If You Find Yourself Caught In Love.”
In a further display of the band’s interchangeable dynamic, Stuart Murdoch danced merrily while shaking a tambourine as guitarist/vocalist Stevie Jackson displayed his vocal abilities as he sang “To Be Myself Completely.” “I am feeling moved, I am on the stage Hank Williams and Patsy Cline were on,” Jackson said before paying homage to country legend Hank Williams.
Jackson played an impromptu cover of “Lost Highway” to the satisfaction of the Music City crowd and the surprise of Murdoch. “Who would have thought there would be a little bit of country in a boy from Scotland,” Murdoch said afterward.
The Hank Williams cover was not the only surprise Belle and Sebastian had for the fans. “Hello, this is Stuart from Belle and Sebastian . I am sorry you could not make it to the show tonight . we heard you enjoyed “Your Cover’s Blown” and we’d like to play it for you,” Murdoch said while calling a fan on another fan’s cell phone.
Murdoch also surprised another fan by inviting her on stage to join in with the singer’s delightfully silly calisthenic-like dancing.
Belle and Sebastian ended their set with a barrage of tracks from their back catalogue “Like Dylan In the Movies” and “Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying” from If You’re Feeling Sinister and “I’m A Cuckoo” and “If You Find Yourself Caught In Love” from Dear Catastrophe Waitress.
A short while later, Belle and Sebastian returned to the stage for a one-song encore of “Judy and Her Dream of Horses,” a tune chosen by a fan in the second row.

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