Fujiya & Miyagi at the South Street Seaport

It's tough to be a deadpan dance band in front of a large outdoor audience, but about halfway through last night's sweet show at the South Street Seaport—part of the terrific summer series of free concerts at that venue—Fujiya & Miyagi finally got the whole crowd moving and turned the pier into a party.

In case you're wondering: yes, that's them. Fujiya & Miyagi aren't Japanese, and it's not a duo. Cheery, polite, and immediately likable, this Brighton-based band put their accessible sound to good use last night, with vocals in whispery monotones over funky guitar and bass over swirling keyboards and thumping beats. I didn't recognize every song, so can't give you a full set list, but the 50-minute show included In One Ear and Out the Other, Reeboks in Heaven, Ankle Injuries, Collarbone, and Uh. And though it was a pretty typical free-show crowd—diverse, large, somewhat distracted—it was a lovely summer evening, the setting was festive, and Fujiya & Miyagi sent everyone off into the night bouncy and happy.

The South Street Seaport is located at the eastern end of Fulton Street. Beer and wine is sold on site, and there's lots of mediocre-to-bad food available in nearby restaurants... except I noticed last night that a Ruben's Empanadas opened up about three blocks west on Fulton, so that's definitely where you should grab a quick bite. Upcoming bands giving free shows here include Menoma on July 13, and, most exciting, The National on August 17. Seaport Music is part of the River to River Festival, and you can find a full schedule here.