Brand New @ Wembley Arena, London
This was definitely the type of show where the enjoyment comes from being in a room (a warehouse) full of people screaming the lyrics along with the singer -- to the point where how the band sounds becomes almost irrelevant. I love gigs like that, so I didn't mind in the least (and anyway, I've already had my reverent Brand New club tour experience).
That said, the energy of fast songs was so intense that the acoustic moments were overwhelmed. It was a shame, since Jesse's voice sounded amazing on the quieter songs ('Limousine' acoustic, etc). The crowd screaming along to every word also meant that some of the nuances of Jesse's performance were drowned out (e.g. changing the lyrics to 'Sowing Season' to "was losing all my friends, but I WANT 'em back").
Again, not a criticism, but I wish I could've gotten the full Jesse Lacey: Wounded Dove experience along with the Brand New: Kickass Rock Band experience.
The support acts might have been amazing, but I uh, wouldn't know, since all I saw of them was Glassjaw's final song. (I've clearly been attending too many indie gigs recently, where the show never starts until at least 2 hours after the start time. I forgot: emo shows are always done by eleven. Side note: why do I keep getting older, but the kids at Brand New shows stay the same age?? Another side note: it's never okay to wear the t-shirt of the band you're seeing. IT'S NEVER OKAY.)
To be honest, when Glassjaw was announced as a support act, it made me kind of uncomfortable. It's always a bit distressing when Band A inspires Band B to become the band they are, and then years later, Band B ends up achieving success that Band A never did. IDK. :|
Anyway!
I couldn't tell how full the venue was (full...ish?), but since I got a sheepish email a few days ago telling me that tickets were still available, I guess they didn't sell it out. Wembley isn't the iconic London venue anymore (when Brand New play the O2, then that will be incredible), and I am a little bitter that Australia gets a whole tour and we get ONE date (oh, you want to tour someplace where it's sunny and pretty? well, FINE). But I see what they were trying to do by playing Wembley. And it is impressive that a band whose last charting UK single, two years ago, peaked at #152 (thanks, wikipedia) can play a successful gig in a huge London arena.
(As I've said before, I find it heartening that Brand New has found an audience just by virtue of being really fucking talented.)
What else?
I'd been expecting it, but the difference between Devil/Daisy songs and YFW/Deja songs was really, really pronounced. It does bring it home what a musically accomplished band latter day Brand New is. That said, I thought the way the back-to-back teengasm of 'Jude Law' and 'Seventy Times 7' segued into 'At the Bottom' (which is real emo-kid-grows-up stuff) worked very well. And it's remarkable how well the eternal final song, 'Play Crack the Sky', echoes into the band's more mature, musically-complex moments.
The background slide show of horror movie freaks and dead things didn't really enhance the performance for me, but whatever. Brand New are kind of strange -- did you know?
In all, it was not a surprising gig, but a pleasingly solid one.
Song rec: Brand New - The Archer's Bows Have Broken (sendspace, 4mb)
Lately, this is the first song I cue up when I want to listen to Brand New. The melody, which reminded me of 'Mr Brightside' in demo form, is frenetic and layered in this version. Jesse's vocals are terse and strangely exhilarating. Just... a good rock song.
That said, the energy of fast songs was so intense that the acoustic moments were overwhelmed. It was a shame, since Jesse's voice sounded amazing on the quieter songs ('Limousine' acoustic, etc). The crowd screaming along to every word also meant that some of the nuances of Jesse's performance were drowned out (e.g. changing the lyrics to 'Sowing Season' to "was losing all my friends, but I WANT 'em back").
Again, not a criticism, but I wish I could've gotten the full Jesse Lacey: Wounded Dove experience along with the Brand New: Kickass Rock Band experience.
The support acts might have been amazing, but I uh, wouldn't know, since all I saw of them was Glassjaw's final song. (I've clearly been attending too many indie gigs recently, where the show never starts until at least 2 hours after the start time. I forgot: emo shows are always done by eleven. Side note: why do I keep getting older, but the kids at Brand New shows stay the same age?? Another side note: it's never okay to wear the t-shirt of the band you're seeing. IT'S NEVER OKAY.)
To be honest, when Glassjaw was announced as a support act, it made me kind of uncomfortable. It's always a bit distressing when Band A inspires Band B to become the band they are, and then years later, Band B ends up achieving success that Band A never did. IDK. :|
Anyway!
I couldn't tell how full the venue was (full...ish?), but since I got a sheepish email a few days ago telling me that tickets were still available, I guess they didn't sell it out. Wembley isn't the iconic London venue anymore (when Brand New play the O2, then that will be incredible), and I am a little bitter that Australia gets a whole tour and we get ONE date (oh, you want to tour someplace where it's sunny and pretty? well, FINE). But I see what they were trying to do by playing Wembley. And it is impressive that a band whose last charting UK single, two years ago, peaked at #152 (thanks, wikipedia) can play a successful gig in a huge London arena.
(As I've said before, I find it heartening that Brand New has found an audience just by virtue of being really fucking talented.)
What else?
I'd been expecting it, but the difference between Devil/Daisy songs and YFW/Deja songs was really, really pronounced. It does bring it home what a musically accomplished band latter day Brand New is. That said, I thought the way the back-to-back teengasm of 'Jude Law' and 'Seventy Times 7' segued into 'At the Bottom' (which is real emo-kid-grows-up stuff) worked very well. And it's remarkable how well the eternal final song, 'Play Crack the Sky', echoes into the band's more mature, musically-complex moments.
The background slide show of horror movie freaks and dead things didn't really enhance the performance for me, but whatever. Brand New are kind of strange -- did you know?
In all, it was not a surprising gig, but a pleasingly solid one.
Song rec: Brand New - The Archer's Bows Have Broken (sendspace, 4mb)
Lately, this is the first song I cue up when I want to listen to Brand New. The melody, which reminded me of 'Mr Brightside' in demo form, is frenetic and layered in this version. Jesse's vocals are terse and strangely exhilarating. Just... a good rock song.