How does a band become critically noticed in the music world? For Matt Friedberger of the brother/sister duo the Fiery Furnaces, the best way was to “record an album of long-story songs where the narrative doesn’t quite seem to make sense and the playing seems not quite good,” Matt said in a recent interview.

Despite Matt’s most earnest attempts at self-deprecation, fans and critics alike have joined in resounding their approval of the Furnaces’ sophomore effort, Blueberry Boat. The album is an epic collection of long stories and twisted travelogues that employ any musical landscape the Friedbergers could create.

Instrumentalist Matt and his sister/vocalist Eleanor created a studio masterwork on Blueberry Boat, where themes, dynamics and instrumental arrangements shift continuously within each song. Recreating this atmosphere live is nearly impossible, so the Furnaces had the task of adapting their recorded work for performance. Eleanor warned the audience would “hear radically different arrangements,” but this was merely “part of the fun.”

The Furnaces – who add bassist Toshi Yano and drummer Andy Knowles for the stage – quickly made it known they were not going to waste time basking in the audience’s applause Friday night at the Paradise Rock Club.

“We’re not stopping between songs!” Matt Friedberger informed his band seconds before the first song.

For the next 18 minutes, the band fulfilled Matt’s expectations, driving through a seamless wave of song fragments in a high-energy rock n’ roll revue.

The first set included a disco-inspired run-through of “My Dog was Lost But Now He’s Found,” which utilized a more playful keyboard-led approach than on Blueberry Boat. The siblings turned “Chief Inspector Blancheflower” into an organ-vocal duo while “Don’t Dance Her Down Boys” from their debut album Gallowsbird’s Bark was given a pulsating rock renovation.

Matt admitted one of the inspirations for their unpredictable live performances is It’s Alive by the Ramones. The Furnaces’ breakneck pace and irrationally continuous sets pay homage to “da Bruddas,” but The Furnaces’ diversified repertoire allows them great room to explore.

The set ended abruptly after a 55-minute performance, but the crowd demanded more even as the house lights returned. The Friedberger siblings revisited the stage for a short organ duet including “Bright Blue Tie.”

The band that set out to “distinguish [themselves] in the market” proved they could transform their studio accomplishments into an inimitable live force.