Show Review

There is nothing that could be written Brand New that hasn’t already been spewed out on the internet by fiercely devoted fan boys and girls (myself included). Possibly the most polarizing band in the scene, one might even say it is the poor man’s Fall Out Boy when it comes to over analyzing fans and critical scrutiny.

So I am not going to waste any one’s time any of that garbage. I was privileged enough to get a hold of a ticket to a Brand New show in Columbus, one of the handful of dates that the guys are playing in the Midwest during a break from writing their new record, and I left the show feeling strangely encouraged.

The opening act was the eclectic The Builders and the Butchers. An all acoustic sextet, the band was surprisingly refreshing after the last Brand New opener I caught, which was Thrice. Two acoustic guitars, an acoustic bass, mandolin and two percussionists produced the least amount of sound I have heard from six people on a stage. The music was folky with the stripped down song writing of the White Stripes and Colin Miloy of the Decemberists on vocals. Overall, a solid opener. If you dig kind of bizarre indie rock, check them out.

In a remarkably quick sound check and instrument readjustment, the lights went down and slowly the members of Brand New walked aimlessly on stage. With the standard pre-set instrumental ambience, the noise came into focus as the short and meditative “Tatou.” When the final drums faded out, the lights came on the bassist Garrett Tierney lead the musical charge with the chugging “Sic Transit Gloria,” then the semi-hit, “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows.” Lead vocalist and guitarist Jesse Lacey seemed somewhat disoriented during the first part of the set. Sluggish to move and not very responsive, Lacey perked up more and more as the set went on.

“It is great to be in a room full of corn fed Midwesterners,” Lacey told the crowd. “We are from New York so we are still struggling to come to grips with the fact that our votes don’t count.”

The first part of the set included songs from the scene approved 2003 release, Deja Entendu, including the moody “Jaws Theme Swimming” and, as evident from the crowd response, the fan favorite “Okay, I believe you, but my Tommy gun don’t.” The band even threw in a couple throw backs form the first album (“Shower Scene” and “No Seatbelt Song”), a refreshing twist from the band’s recent snub of their earlier material.

Slowly shifting to an acoustic set-up, Lacey took center stage and serenaded the crowd with “Play Crack the Sky,” an ode to friendship, “Handcuffs” and a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Two Headed Boy.” Lacey’s voice was particularly flawless during this part and it rejuvenated my confidence in him as a singer. Overall, his voice was much better than in recent shows. He still did a bit of his trademark half yelp, half scream during a few parts of the set but they were, thankfully, few and far between.

Lacey kept his acoustic guitar on as the rest of his band joined him for “Luca” and then finished off the rest of the set with five other tracks from the band’s latest release, The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me including a personal favorite, “The archers bows have broken.”

Though the setlist was sixteen songs, the show itself seemed very short, clocking in at less than an hour and a half. Before the last two songs, Lacey told the crowd how much he and the band appreciated their support over the years. he discussed how when they talk about the last few years, they are very overwhelmed and they “don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”

Aside from a few technical problems (the bass going out a couple of times, some very hot mics) the show was extremely solid. One of the more impressive shows I have seen. Once the final chords of “Degausser” faded out, Lacey said, “Thank you very much. Good night,” as the crow clamored for more songs. Unfortunately, we have to wait for the new album to get that.

review by Alex Drumm