2008 Woodie Awards
Kevin Drew impresses
Matt Pflaum
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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During Lollapalooza 2006, Broken Social Scene played what was widely considered to be the best set of the festival. Meanwhile, I was across the field trying to stake out a good spot for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Needless to say, this is a decision I've intensely regretted ever since I first heard "You Forgot It In People," Broken Social Scene's second album, a few months later. To attempt to atone for this mistake, I jumped on the first chance I had to see them live -- at the Metro in Chicago on November 3.
This tour is in support of founding member Kevin Drew's solo album, "Spirit If...," and the show was billed as "Broken Social Scene performs Kevin Drew's 'Spirit If….'" This led to some uncertainty as to what I would be seeing exactly -- was this a proper Broken Social Scene show, or basically a Kevin Drew solo show?
The correct answer lay somewhere in between. Broken Social Scene is an ever-evolving collective, and this tour can be seen as a new phase for them. However, about two-thirds of the show was material from "Spirit If…," and Drew assumed frontman status more so than in the past. The lineup was also vastly stripped down compared to previous tours, with guitarist/bassist Brendan Canning (also a founding member) and drummer Justin Peroff the only other former members of the collective to be present for this show. Three touring musicians, including American Analog Set's Andrew Kenny on keyboards, supplemented them. Missing were the strings, horn section, and female singers that have been Broken Social Scene staples in the past.
This smaller lineup was appropriate considering the somewhat sparse arrangements on the new album. "Farewell to the Pressure Kids" rocked louder and faster than it does on "Spirit If…," and "Bodhi Sappy Weekend" sounded great despite the lack of strings that are integral to the studio version. Best of all from the new material was "Backed Out On The…," which provoked a rapturous audience response and significantly raised the energy level of the show. However, I was disappointed that my two favorite songs from the new album, "Frightening Lives" and "Gang Bang Suicide," sounded better in the studio.
This tour is in support of founding member Kevin Drew's solo album, "Spirit If...," and the show was billed as "Broken Social Scene performs Kevin Drew's 'Spirit If….'" This led to some uncertainty as to what I would be seeing exactly -- was this a proper Broken Social Scene show, or basically a Kevin Drew solo show?
The correct answer lay somewhere in between. Broken Social Scene is an ever-evolving collective, and this tour can be seen as a new phase for them. However, about two-thirds of the show was material from "Spirit If…," and Drew assumed frontman status more so than in the past. The lineup was also vastly stripped down compared to previous tours, with guitarist/bassist Brendan Canning (also a founding member) and drummer Justin Peroff the only other former members of the collective to be present for this show. Three touring musicians, including American Analog Set's Andrew Kenny on keyboards, supplemented them. Missing were the strings, horn section, and female singers that have been Broken Social Scene staples in the past.
This smaller lineup was appropriate considering the somewhat sparse arrangements on the new album. "Farewell to the Pressure Kids" rocked louder and faster than it does on "Spirit If…," and "Bodhi Sappy Weekend" sounded great despite the lack of strings that are integral to the studio version. Best of all from the new material was "Backed Out On The…," which provoked a rapturous audience response and significantly raised the energy level of the show. However, I was disappointed that my two favorite songs from the new album, "Frightening Lives" and "Gang Bang Suicide," sounded better in the studio.
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