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Posted in music | pictures on July 18, 2008
Broken Social Scene ("Brendan Canning") & Gentleman Reg @ Mercury Lounge, NYC - pics
words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Kyle Dean Reinford
Real Talk: The show was a warm-up, a place to work out the kinks before they rock the big crowds of the Siren Festival on Saturday. At points it showed. The band had a few false starts and were definitely a little rusty, except for the "classics".
More Real Talk: It wasn't just just Brendan Canning, it was Broken Social Scene! At MERCURY LOUNGE. Clocking in at two hours. Seven band members plus a four piece horn section. 18 gazillion guitars (OK, at least 3 at any given time). Who can really complain about that?
The band was definitely loose, definitely working out the kinks, but definitely fun and HAVING fun as they cruised through five tracks from Brendan Canning's new record (due July 22nd), a Kevin Drew song, a handful of Broken Social Scene tracks, a few odds & sods, and one awesome Apostle Of Hustle track. The new Brendan Canning tracks come off much better in person, although I gotta say that Brendan's voice probably could have done with a hefty dose of effects that he used on Something For All of Us. All in all though, these are minor quibbles compared to how unbelievable it was to hear songs like KC Accidental (an audience choice) in Mercury Lounge.
Since you never can tell, this was BSS on July 17, 2008: Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning, Justin Peroff, Andrew Whiteman (Apostle Of Hustle), Sam Goldberg, Gentelman Reg, Charles Spearin (Do Make Say Think), "newest member" Leon Kingstone, "Philadelphia's Finest" horn section, feturing 3 horns.
The highlight for me was Andrew Whiteman and the VERY impromptu performance of Apostle Of Hustle's "National Anthem of Nowhere". So impromptu that his accompaniment, Brendan Canning on bass and Justin Peroff on drums, were obviously learning the song ON THE SPOT, and it worked like magic. I managed to catch Apostle Of Hustle during their residency at Mercury last year and last night's performance of it definitely felt more special. To me, Andrew Whiteman is the unsung hero of BSS; his effortless GQ-smooth solos elevated all the songs, ESPECIALLY "Cause = Time" with it's soaring solos.
Fellow Arts & Crafts (BSS's label) artist Gentleman Reg opened the show, as well as played in the BSS backing band. This was my virgin Gentleman Reg experience and his songs seemed simple and with potential, although kind of lost in the dull roar of the talky backs-to-the-artist crowd, especially considering his sparse guitar and drums arrangement. Gentleman Reg may require further investigation.
Kyle adds:
charles spearin (do make say think) is playing with the guys and debuted a part of a new project called "happiness," in which he interviews people about what makes them happy and then takes the pitches of their voices and turns them into music. very interesting and avant-guarde. they also had a horn section with them. i believe the most i counted on stage was 11 people, but for mercury that's ridiculous. they joked around and improvised a few bits of songs (one of which was a promise not to play madison square garden). the finale was chosen via audience vote (kc accidental) to which kevin responded, "you guys are living in the past!" the room was also about 120 degrees.BSS Setlist and more photos below...
Gentleman Reg...
Broken Social Scene...
Setlist (Little help here?)
Chameleon
Hit The Wall
Churches Under The Stairs
Fire-Eyed Boy
Cause = Time
Possible Grenade
Fucked Up Kid
Love Is New
? (Instrumental Song dedicated to Half Nelson crew)
New Song. Ten Percenter? Tepid Santa? (Sorry guys! haha)
"Happiness" experiment with Leon Kingstone and Charles Spearin
National Anthem Of Nowhere (Apostle Of Hustle with Brendan canning & Justin Peroff)
"We'll never play Madison Square Garden" Country Jamboree
Water In Hell (NEW SONG)
KC Accidental (chosen by the crowd)
Posted on July 18, 2008 11:40 AM
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Comments (35)
Broken social scene isn't even remotely good.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 11:54 AM
BBG <3 BSS? Who'd'a thunk it.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 11:58 AM
Broken Social Scene is fantastic you stupid hater douche
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 12:24 PM
meh....getting tired of this, pretty much a pyramid scheme of lame Toronto musicians
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 12:25 PM
"Broken social scene isn't even remotely good."
you obviously just have bad taste. that's ok, a lot of people on here do too.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 12:26 PM
agreed. go check out one of the other buzz bands that are around now that will disappear after the summer...
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 12:42 PM
"New Song. Ten Percenter? Tepid Santa? (Sorry guys! haha)"
This is the one they said was inspired by somewhere outside Mexico City, right? And the "T" word I thought I heard repeated through the song is "Tempest"...
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 12:51 PM
vampire weekend, tokyo police club, & ariel pink just to name a few...
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 12:53 PM
ariel pink is the biggest scenster bullshit ever released!!!
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 12:56 PM
Kevin Drew is sort of an ass, but Broken Social Scene produces beautiful music. Period.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:06 PM
>> is sort of an ass??
no bigger douche in the world...
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:12 PM
^completely true
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:15 PM
no wonder Feist dumped his ass
and for a lil' gossip-- he left his wife for her...karma baby!
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:28 PM
1:12 ...i smell penis envy
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:31 PM
Its good to see Dr Jacoby has finally gotten over Laura's death long enough to make a public appearance....
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:34 PM
twin peaks reference? ...dad?
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:40 PM
Haha i love black bubblegum's review. Stick to the metal dude. Real Talk as if that was real. I went to the show last night and i got some real talk of my own. This was way too long. Lost a lot of momentum and you could see the crowd getting bored. I don't know if you can complain but it was not the best BSS show i have ever seen but then again they are not as exciting a band as a few years ago which is evident from the fact that the show did not even sell out till yesterday. And please no one say that is because it was billed as BSS presents BC. Bullshit, everyone knew it was BSS. Another real talk fact is i scalped a ticket outside for 20 bucks(10 dollars less than face). I mean it was a good show but nothing spectacular or memorable. The boat may have sailed on these guys.
Oh and one more real talk. I am clearly seen in the crowd picture.
Posted by A Manhattan Not Brooklyn Asshole | July 18, 2008 1:47 PM
a few years back when they released their self titled album, these guys were at their best... they are losing momentum...
also, kevin drew is the brains behind bss, but it's true that he's a pretentious twat.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:54 PM
really drained out rock. They could open for Rush.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:56 PM
>>also, kevin drew is the brains behind bss
so we can only blame him?
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 1:59 PM
blame whoever you want. just stating the facts their amigo. his "presents" album is far better than brendan's
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 2:06 PM
this show was fun. It didn't seem to be anything more than a fun, sort of open rehearsal.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 2:59 PM
Show was fun. There were only a few songs that were played with a real sense of urgency, most were very loose and informal. The Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon stage banter got a little old but that is only because I'd rather see them play. If I wanted an evening of canadian humor I would have stayed home and watched Strange Brew.
As for BSS losing momentum, the Kevin Drew show at Webster Hall last fall was really very good. Can't speak for the whole fall tour but I also have a recording of the NPR set from DC which is also very good.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 3:00 PM
a manhattan not brooklyn douchebag is the weird looking guy with the crazy eyes in the plaid shirt in the front of the crowd shot. he's struggling trying to learn to clap.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 3:09 PM
hahaha *poop*
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 3:55 PM
i didn't know kevin drew was known to be a douchebag
can someone tell me why/in what way? im genuinely curious.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 4:58 PM
^^^me too. he doesn't seem pretentious at all to me.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 6:31 PM
yeah, seen these Drew=douche comments a few times (in blog comments it seems) and every time I've heard him interviewed or seem him live he seems modest and gracious.
What gives?
Posted by g | July 18, 2008 7:14 PM
It's because his modesty really rings false. If you can't see this, and it is quite transparent, then I don't know what to say really.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 7:29 PM
setlist is missing what i think was "stars and sons," played between the happiness project and the apostles of hustle tune.
in addition to the bss "classics," i thought that the first two canning tunes sounded great, as well as the new one with the title we can't figure out.
fun show. probably not as good as drew's webster hall show of last fall, but still good. awesome to hear that band in a tiny venue.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 7:39 PM
I don't know. I think today's male is more catty than most women. I mean the guy's talented and good looking and while he operates in a whole other stratoshere than us regular guys, that seems to be threatening to some.
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 7:49 PM
@ 7:29...
that's it? false modesty? guess I have to agree with 7:49 (on the assumption that you're male).
Posted by g | July 18, 2008 8:51 PM
^^ i am
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 10:09 PM
i think we're all just looking for reasons to hate everyone, or find some falseness in their modesty.
christ, seriously?
Posted by Anonymous | July 18, 2008 10:48 PM
I should have gone to this show, if only for the Apostle of Hustle tune. He was fucking great at Mercury last year.
Posted by aaron | July 20, 2008 2:42 PM