Local 'folkestra' Hey Marseilles is no stranger to Seattle University

Since the last time (and the first time) Hey Marseilles (pronounced "Mar-SAY") brought their accordion-infused seven-piece "folkestra" to campus, the band did their first shows on the east coast, hit Canadian Music Fest in Toronto and was name-dropped on NPR for one of their six performances at South by Southwest.

Not bad for a matter of two months.

The band has oft been compared to Beirut but boasts more accessible melodies as well as the Decemberists but is buoyed more by a stronger vocal.

Not to mention, they're a lot less depressing. Hey Marseilles stands out from the other too-hip folk acts and the growing pasture of cerebral chamber pop collectives simply because they have more fun than the rest. Any show is a show of the troupe's goofy camaraderie, and they get the audience involved, too.

Listen to "Rio" before the show to learn the clapping that kicks off their percussion-packed jaunt, or make your way to the front if you want to catch one of the tambourines they often throw into the crowd.

"I thought it was corny music," says Colin Richey, the band's drummer who originally knew the band from recording their album. "Then I went and saw them play live […] and I was like, oh this is way more fun than I thought it would be."

For frontman Matt Bishop, the Quadstock show is also strange intersection of his parallel lives: Bishop also works as an admissions counselor for Seattle University, and both the band and his job at Seattle U started in August 2006.

"[It can be challenging] balancing being a responsible, tie-wearing admissions counselor while simultaneously rocking out to some accordion riffs onstage," he admits.
The Quadstock show comes after a break from playing Seattle shows and a week before the band's national re-release of their album, "To Travels and Trunks" on vinyl.

Mary Pauline may be reached at entertainment@su-spectator.com