By: Traci Hanson
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BRMC at the Fine Line - Photo by David McCrindle (see more photos from the show on the BRMC website here.)
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The past has heard its faults, and with what’s learned, lies better.
–Peter Hayes.
I learned once that a band—a rock band in particular—can be great without being any good. Take the Sex Pistols, for example. More recently I’ve learned that, as a music fan, there is little in the world better than realizing your favorite band is actually good. The thought that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club weren’t any good has never actually crossed my mind, but on Monday night the thought that they are did.
This tour comes after a difficult year for BRMC. Their sophomore album, Take Them On, On Your Own, was slightly less successful than their debut; their record label, Virgin, more or less abandoned them, prompting a mutual contract dissolution; and their tour was riddled with disagreements and difficulties, which ultimately lead to the exit of drummer Nick Jago. And then the clouds broke. Bassist Robert Levon Been and guitarist Peter Hayes began laying tracks for their third album, Howl, and Jago rejoined just in time to contribute to a single track. The album has garnered twin deals on either side of the Atlantic, with RCA here and Echo there.
Press surrounding the album has been steadfast in its astonishment at the change in tone from the first two albums to Howl. But anyone who was paying attention saw this shift coming. The whisper of Johnny Cash has always surrounded BRMC, and older tracks like “As Sure As the Sun” and “And I’m Aching” would be just as comfortable on Howl. A shift, regardless of its evidence, however, is there. Where BRMC and Take Them On… featured guitar fuzz, Howl highlights harmonica and organ. Where it was heavy with Jesus and Mary Chain feedback, it is sinuous with an assertive Neil Young/Bob Dylan presence. And it’s a good presence.
Monday’s show was satiated with songs from the new album, but the old were certainly not forgotten. The set began with Hayes’ solo performance of “Devil’s Waitin’” and “Fault Line,” and “Restless Sinner” gradually introduced the rest of the band, with the addition of an unknown on guitar. I’m told this was Spike, and he used to be in some other bands. (Spike who; what bands? I have no idea.) The extra sound was a nice addition and it rounded out the song beautifully. “Still Suspicion Holds You Tight” brought me to the realization that BRMC are not just great, but good, as Been switched between piano, bass, and vocals with ease. The middle of the set showcased a mini-set of old material, and the new pared down sound did nothing to squelch the former fire. They played “Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘N’ Roll” with more vigor than I saw in all three of the other times I’ve seen it, combined. And then a few songs later they played a version of “U.S. Government” that was slowed and stripped bare, the result of which was an extremely effective and poignant message during such sad times. “Promise” was played at the close of the set, and I was dumbfounded to see Hayes break out a trombone.
The encore was one of the more satisfying I’ve seen. 6 songs and the better part of an hour long, it included half old material and half new. The third song, “Awake,” was evidently an impromptu addition at the persistent begging of a fan. The encore ended with the hidden track from Howl, “Open Invitation.” The song features Hayes on vocals and a harmonium and Been backing organ and it has become my new favorite song. The strength and beauty of Hayes’ vocals are highlighted in such a way that none of the other songs can convey and I am so sad it’s only a hidden track.
I left the show feeling redeemed in my BRMC fandom. While the three previous BRMC shows I attended were all great in their own right, none of them (I could kill myself for writing this) were that good—equipment trouble was part and parcel for each. This time around, my excitement—vast though it was—was actually shadowed by how purely impressed I was by BRMC’s growth and musicianship. Now that’s a good show.
Set List:
Devil’s Waitin’ - +++
Fault Line - +++
Restless Sinner - +++
Shuffle Your Feet - +++
Ain’t No Easy Way - +++
Still Suspicion Holds You Tight - +++
Weight of the World - +++
Love Burns - +
White Palms - +
Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘N’ Roll (Punk Song) - +
As Sure As the Sun - +
Howl - +++
U.S. Government - ++
Sympathetic Noose - +++
Promise - +++
Encore:
Spread Your Love - +
Stop - ++
Awake - +
Gospel Song - +++
The Line - +++
Open Invitation - +++
+ = from B.R.M.C.
++ = from Take Them On, On Your Own
+++ = from Howl
Location Info:
Fine Line Music Café
Artist Info: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
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