Warning: My camera stinks. I almost didn’t even bother to write about this show because my pictures turned out so bad. One of these days i’ll just have to stomach it and just upgrade. Though we had an excellent spot, it seems I can’t be more than five feet away to have a clear picture. It’s saddening, but these will do I guess.
There’s no question that I was really looking forward to this show over the past weekend. This was my first time seeing Broken Social Scene despite them coming to Atlanta several times in the past. In fact, i’ve bungled every chance i’ve had to see any of the Arts & Crafts roster – even Metric, despite them not being on the label but are part of the collective. That’s the past though, and this time I finally had my chance to see them perform. That year that I discovered You Forgot It in People in 2003 was such an amazing year for music. It was when I really discovered all those wonderful Canadian albums like Metric’s Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? and Stars’ Heart. But, BSS’ album had it all – power-pop, ballads, rock-anthems the whole shabang. I still listen to it every once in a while.
Besides having a chance to attend the show, it’s just as nice to finally have people to go to all these shows with. Many thanks to Andy, Sarah and Amy – who’s been my partner in crime the last couple of months at all these shows. It’s so much fun to be around them, and all of you make these experiences so much more fulfilling. Hopefully we all can go to more show together in the future.
Do Make Say Think opened the show and they were amazing. I came out it with a new appreciation for the band. I wasn’t all that familiar with all their albums but I knew going in what they were all about. I’ve always loved post-rock, but i’ve never been a fan of the more epic sounds of groups like GYBE! These guys are not like that though, which is great. I mean they have similarities with slow build ups and than the large release towards the end, but they have such an original sound. There’s elements of jazz and even shoegaze thrown in with the inclusion of different instruments like saxophones and trumpets. They even had two drum kits set up, which if anything was a great visual. It’s beautiful noise at it’s best with all the guitars, drums and horns with such a packed crowd was just wonderful.
Do Make Say Think | “Fredericia”
The venue was definitely packed to capacity though. I was expecting the show to sell out, but i’d honestly never seen the Variety Playhouse with so many people inside. It was loud, sweaty and exciting. Once Broken Social Scene came out it became insane. It was kinda nice for me because it was the first show in a while that I actually was familiar with all the lyrics so that I could sing along for a change. There was so much energy to feed off of, and hopefully the band was feeling this too. It’s what I needed considering the bad experience I had the previous week with Built to Spill (which I will not divulge).
If there was one thing I was really hoping for with the show, it was to at least see Amy Milan, Emily Haines or Feist show up. I think they’re all such amazing vocalists and a lot of my favorite BSS songs contain either of them on vocals. Luckily for us, their special guest was Amy Milan of Stars! I almost didn’t recognize her, but I had a feeling it was her from the beginning as I mentioned it to my friend Amy. She sang one of my favorite tracks that night with “Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl”, so I was satisfied with that. I wish I could’ve gotten a hold of a setlist because my memory is fuzzy about all that was played. They did play a lot of the popular tracks off both albums though so there wasn’t really any songs that I wish they’d played.
They played a great set, but sadly no encore. Apparently they stopped playing them a long time ago? I thought he was joking, but as soon as they finished up their last song it was a done deal. There was also some verbal sparring between one member (I can’t remember his name) and someone from the crowd. It was odd, as it spurred some Canada vs. America nonsense. You can read Andy’s previous post about some of it and the eventual friction between members of the band or whatever. I don’t really care about that myself but I guess it’s worth mentioning.
Definitely not letting that detract from the great time I had that night. It was by far the most fun i’ve had at any show this year. Atlanta always has such great crowds so it’s always a pleasure to be in the midst of it all. The band is still touring so if they’re in your neck of the woods…..SEE THEM NOW. Seriously, because it’ll be a while before you see them again as they’re going on definite hiatus after the tour. Also as an added bonus, I was looking around last night for some live tracks and I came across this full live set the band did in 2004. So here are those tracks for you to enjoy.
10-24 Dallas, TX – Gypsy Tea Room *
10-26 Austin, TX – Stubb’s *
10-27 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live *
10-28 New Orleans, LA – Voodoo Music Experience
10-29 Birmingham, AL – Bottletree *
10-31 Tallahassee, FL – The Moon *
11-01 Fort Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room *
11-02 St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing *
11-03 Charleston, SC – Music Farm *
11-04 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel *
11-06 Baltimore, MD – Sonar *
11-07 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club *
11-08 Providence, RI – Lupo’s *
11-09 Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory *
11-10 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues *
11-11 Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Theater *
* with Do Make Say Think
Broken Social Scene | Live @ Emo’s | 03/18/04
Broken Social Scene | “Canada vs. America”
Broken Social Scene | “Cause = Time”
Broken Social Scene | “7/4 (Shoreline)”
Broken Social Scene | “K.C. Accidental”
Broken Social Scene | “Stars and Sons”
Broken Social Scene | “Almost Crimes”
Broken Social Scene | “Give Me the Chance to Fall (Gentleman Reg’s Song)”
Broken Social Scene | “Anthems For a Seventeen Year-Old Girl”
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Are these available to anyone else? Can’t seem to do much with them.
I can’t do anything either. If someone could repost them it would be great because they are really good.
Canada vs. America is a Broken Social Scene song.
We need more posts like this!