Rotown, Rotterdam
24/06/04
An outsider could never really know what to expect from Broken Social Scene live. There are just so many members in the band, and as they mill around randomly, picking up whatever instruments are available, or even just walking off stage to rest, there is no clue as to what sounds they are going to make next. But starting off this Rotown gig with a gentle jam that didn’t really seem to be going anywhere, it made you wonder, just what is so special about Broken Social Scene?
Then suddenly they burst into ‘KC Accidental’ and there is this wall of melody bouncing off the audience. It’s all incredibly tight, with flows of rock guitar surging dangerously, and the quick burst of pace just seems to take everyone aback, meaning no-one knew how to react. To stand or dance was the question? But it definitely woke everyone up to the experience at least.
With so many people onstage, it was also definitely a tough gig to mix for the engineers. There were up to three or four guitars playing at any time, then bass, drums, horns, and a number of keyboards lying all over the floor too, and then up to five vocalists singing together, so it took a while for the levels to balance. But it was when everyone was there and singing that the magic was starting to happen because Broken Social Scene really are a “supergroup”. They come into this band with plenty of individual talent and together they come out collectively as something very special and organic.
‘Cause=Time’ is the quintessential indie-rock anthem. It has powerful rhythms, killer melodies and guitar riffs you want to sing along with. ‘Almost Crimes’ has the same effect actually. All fuzzed-up noise, the song is a voyage, except it feels like you’re being dragged behind it on a rope - the vocals of Metric’s Emily Haines particularly bringing the song to life. It was a performance to make you feel alive.
Yet Broken Social Scene have so many strings to their bow, and well, they just have so many bows. Seemingly all of them can sing really well, so they do, sometimes together, or taking turns at lead. They rock out, they take it mellow, or dance drunkenly in front of the audience.
Once into the swing of things, the slower numbers made much more sense too. ‘Looks Just Like the Sun’ is the stand out gentle track from You Forgot It In People. Swaying in a gentle breeze on a warm day, it’s a relaxing piece to be lost in. ‘Lover’s Spit’ also takes it so easy it almost staggers home after a long night out. Yet despite the chaos of the live show, the band always seems to be in complete control of the sounds.
Admittedly they were initially perplexed by the Dutch reaction. You could see the confusion in their eyes as they wonder, “do they like us, or do they hate us?” Well it’s not always quite so obvious in the flat lands, but really, people loved it, and as the band lost themselves to each other, dancing, and having fun like good friends who hadn’t been together for six months, then the audience liked it even more.
Steven McCarron
Photo: Tonie van Ringelestijn
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