Denver’s DeVotchKa has come a long way since the nights they spent playing South City’s Way Out Club (three times) and Frederick’s Music Lounge (once) from 2001-02.

The quartet brings it’s large and colorful sound to town Friday, this time on the big stage with a string quartet in tow.

They are touring in support of their new, violin-heavy album, “A Mad and Faithful Telling.” The record is solid: strong songwriting backed by a full compliment of unusual instruments, including theremin, accordion and sousaphone. The vocals by Nick Urata, reminiscent of Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo, are as haunting and melodic as ever.

The band took a giant step forward after being recruited to play the soundtrack for the 2006 hit movie Little Miss Sunshine. They didn’t seek out the job, according to percussionist and trumpet player Shawn King (above.) He said that their first brush with the movie’s directors came during a live performance at Hollywood’s Knitting Factory.

“We used to start the evening with a trumpet fanfare and walk through the audience,” said King. “We were brushing shoulders with Jonathan (Dayton) not knowing that in a year’s time we’d be doing the soundtrack together.”

The band watched the Academies from Denver and King said he got the chills when the orchestra burst into “The Enemy Guns” upon Alan Arkin’s Oscar victory.

“It was one of those career moments, for sure,” said King.

DeVotchKa signed with ANTI-, but not until a deal with Sire was quashed by the “suits” at Warner Bros.

“It just seemed like labels, agents and talent buyers were like, ‘What am I going to do with this wacky band with a tuba?’” Urata told Billboard in March.

Just as King has watched his band graduate to larger venues, he has had to upgrade his goals.

“Three years ago we sat down and made a list of ten things we wanted to accomplish; playing a soundtrack being one and playing Red Rocks another. Going to Japan is one of the final items on list,” said King. “You get to thinking, ‘What else can we expect?’”

DeVotchKa with Basia Bulat and Bad Folk

Pageant, Friday

Doors: 7 pm, Show: 8 pm, $15

http://www.myspace.com/devotchkamusic

Did you know?

Shawn King played in a rockabilly band before joining DeVotchKa, where his main drumming influences are Latin, especially Cuban. When asked about his Eastern European heritage, King said it hadn’t played an overly significant role in his music. However, he became animated when discussing the band’s upcoming Summer gig in Poland.

“I found out that my great grandfather left Poland at the age of 18. So this will be the first time in a century that anyone from my family returns to Poland.”

Video: Live on Conan O’ Brien, Monday