Bombadil - Rumba Cafe, 5/15

The four lads in Bombadil dress up in authentic suits and fedoras from Bolivia when they perform, an homage to the country two band members’ visited while studying abroad. For the band’s early show at Rumba Cafe last Thursday, one of the Duke grads was even decked out in matador-esque attire.

But it’s also worth nothing that they constantly lost their hats mid-song. It must have happened 10 or 12 times. And that’s a good thing. The whole Bolivian-look-alike schtick had the potential to be annoying or pompous, but these guys were so frenetic and playful onstage that it all came together in an entertaining package that was a treat for the sparse crowd.

The band shares three vocalists who are all mild mannered and fairly dorky (“Bombadil” is, after all, a Lord of the Rings character), yet charming and exceedingly animated. They sounded strikingly similar as they jumped from mic to mic, properly enunciating in a classical, vaguely European way reminiscent of The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy.

They also happen to be superb songwriters, crafting mounds of melodic hooks amid the band’s various influences--Piedmont blues, Latin American folk and world-music appropriations. One of the tunes was a lively, childlike song about a Polish bear named Otto. You wouldn’t think a song like “Johnny” could be just as fun and boisterous with lyrics like, “He tried to fill the void in his life by writing on his arm with a knife.” But it was. File it under “Playful Songs about Attempted Suicide.”

The Bombadilians switched instruments constantly, employing keys, guitar, drums, trumpet, xylophone and various pieces of percussion with aplomb. The insertion of a traditional Venezuelan hymn was nice and, not surprisingly, decidedly un-hymnlike compared to the Presbyterian ones I grew up with. Another tune was entirely in Spanish, but the basic gist of it, according to the band, was that “somebody screwed somebody else over.”

In case you were curious, Bombadil’s favorite southeast Asian country is Malaysia, as they noted before a song about the country and its capitol, Kuala Lumpur. “So much to say, Malaysia, so much to say,” the song goes. But other than “monsoon winds will take you home,” the song doesn’t say too much about the country. Bombadil cleverly realizes that the energy and spirit of the music can, and sometimes should, speak for itself.

“Cavaliers Har Hum,” off the band’s outstanding debut album, A Buzz, A Buzz, released in late April, is a rousing anthem with lyrics that mirror the Cleveland Cavs’ rise and demise this season: “Cavaliers, sing out in glory, har hum/Cavaliers, it’s the same old story, har hum.” “Julian of Norwich,” about a female English mystic from the 14th century, and “Buzz, A Buzz” were equally spirited and off-kilter in all the right ways.

The set was also interspersed with some low-key pieces on guitar and keyboard that were usually performed solo by Matador Man (my term, not theirs). They weren’t quite as successful as the rollicking songs but did serve as a nice breather now and then. “Smile When You Kiss” had an old-school folky feel that was juxtaposed with present-day sentiments such as, “Get off your cellphone ‘cause they’re tracking you home.”

If anything, the split sets suffered most from the tragically small crowd and an unnaturally early show, two surefire vibe killers. (Seriously, Rumba--a 6 pm scheduled start time?) But with an album as strong as this band’s debut, and a live show that’s even more engaging, a buzz around Bombadil is sure to come. Jump on board now and watch as that little buzz turns into a noisy swarm.

mp3: Bombadil - Johnny
mp3: Bombadil - Get to Getting On