(G) Camera Obscura @ El Rey, Feb. 17 Grade: B+
I’ve been lucky enough to see this Scottish band perform in support of each of their albums, and tonight they were the happiest I’ve ever seen them. It probably helped that their latest album, Let’s Get Out of This Country, topped a lot of 2006 “Best of” lists and this 800-capacity theater sold out. Most of the crowd were newbies, but as the set was almost entirely the new material, it worked in their favor. The highlight of the night was set closer “Eighties Fan.” Second highlight: Nigel the percussionist didn’t go on tour to stay at home with his newborn baby girl, so his replacement was French musician Francois Marie. Ooooh la la! He was dreamy!