BRMC Concert Review

April 6th, 2010

BRMC

BRMC played to packed house this past Thursday night at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto and proved that after seven albums and 12 years together they still know how to deliver a rock and roll show.

The trio, consisting of original members Peter Hayes (vocals, guitar, bass and synthesizer), Robert Levon Been (vocals, bass, guitar and piano) and new member Leah Shapiro (drums) kept the crowd dancing and singing for a very sweaty hour and a half. The band played songs from their current album, Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, as well as tracks from past albums.

Review, pictures and set list after the jump!

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, who recently changed their name to the abbreviated BRMC, have experienced a resurgence of success with the inclusion of their song Done All Wrong on the New Moon soundtrack. To promote Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, BRMC have been travelling across North America, including a second stop in Toronto on April 11 at the Phoenix.

The band’s sound was extremely tight and proved that all their hype from years of touring the world is well deserved. Still, it was hard to tell whether drummer Leah Shapiro was in his musical ‘zone’ or was incredibly unimpressed with playing to a sold out show. Interaction between the bandmates on stage and the crowd was non existent. There was a definite distance between band members and the audience which left me feeling a little cold. Still, I had the feeling that the band was more concerned with playing a solid show worthy of their legion of die hard fans than engaging in banter with one another and the audience.

The encore included Been sitting on the edge of the stage to play an acoustic song for the audience before the remaining members returned to finish off the night with their amps blazing. It seemed to take the entire show for BRMC to warm up, but by the end of the show the band finally looked to be enjoying themselves.

Set List Included:

Red Eyes and Tears from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Love Burns from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Bad Blood from Beat the Devil’s Tattoo
Beat the Devil’s Tattoo from Beat the Devil’s Tattoo
Berlin from Baby 81
Weapon of Choice –from Baby 81
High/Low from Take Them On, On Your Own
Ain’t No Easy Way from Howl
Shuffle Your Feet from Howl