Somewhere between the fire alarms being set off and a chunk of the massive crowd heading toward the emergency exit next to the stage, it became hard to distinguish members of Pedro the Lion from the crowd. During their performance at the Middle East club Thursday night, I even found myself wedged next to frontman Dave Bazan as we slowly crept toward the exit, and yet, I was not overcome by his presence. For a band like Pedro, who mix their personal ideological views with simple, powerful instrumentals and heartbreaking lyrics, this sense of humility is a virtue they cherish, and their show at the Middle East only proved their musical genius.

As the crowd began to slowly amass for the show, the band Starflyer 59 opened up their set playing Pedro-like music. With soft, overpowering vocals, simple guitar hooks and bouncy drumwork, the group helped to promote a moody and heartfelt atmosphere. While the band put forth an excellent effort, they passed off more as a Pedro wanna-be band than a group that could stand on their own merits. Nevertheless, they were able to play an excellent set and really helped to lead into Pedro's performance.

The members of Pedro the Lion humbly crossed the stage at the opening of their set. Despite their lack of showmanship, no ridiculous costumes or dancing to overshadow the music, the band stuck to what they did best-playing harrowingly sorrowful songs with utter simplicity and an aura of power. Bazan's singing, so similar in style with the Counting Crows' frontman Adam Duritz, rose above the moving and slowly overpowering instrumental work in songs such as "Bands with Managers." Bazan's vocal work reached greater angular heights with every contortion of his face, all to the enjoyment of the head-bobbing crowd.

Pedro continued to serenade the crowd with their earlier work, including fan favorites like, "Penetration" off of their 2002 album Control and "When They Really Get to Know You They Will Run" from their first album, It's Hard to Find a Friend. Bazan kept banter with the audience to a minimum, mostly paying thanks in between songs. But Bazan did stop momentarily to answer questions from the crowd on everything from the election results to ice cream.

Following the second question-answer session, Pedro started into the song "The Poison," off their newest album, Achilles Heel, when a peculiar noise sounded. White lights began to illuminate the basement of the Middle East and sounds of a fire alarm stopped the music as members of the band and audience stared at each other inquisitively. After a few minutes of confusion, the crowd was forced out of the basement by security. While some fans angrily mused over the incident, others made use of the time to talk to members of the band. After a while, the crowd was allowed back into the Middle East, and it rushed into the club to hear the end of the set.

Bazan and company quickly cheered up the crowd with their return to the stage, delivering hit after hit from their dreamy single, "The Rapture," to the light-footed "Big Trucks" and the powerful "Bad Diary Days." Bazan, once again, thanked the crowd and wished them a safe trip home after their heart-aching set.

Their show proved that Pedro the Lion is still a band hard to define-too moody for emo and too preachy for folk, but not preachy enough for gospel. Bazan may attract an innumerable amount of Christian music fans, yet he attracts all types of fans through his lyrics filled with the wounds of pain and little joys in daily life. If anything, the group proved their ingenious ability as musicians at the Middle East, and because when it comes to musical motivation for Bazan, it's all about "the rock and roll.