Like many great concerts, the true highlight of the Broken Social Scene set at Chicago’s The Vic on Thursday, October 9 was the closing number. Kevin Drew, hunkered down firmly front and center, elevated the evening’s balance of fan favorites and new gems by closing the set with “It’s All Gonna Break.”
The song, an arduous nine-minute anthem from the collective’s second full-length self-titled LP, raised the already enthusiastic spirits of the sold-out crowd. Before beginning the tune, Drew said, “I initially wrote this song about your country. I guess it’s all coming true,” and indeed, although the joke was humorous, it also highlighted the anxious nerves of the audience members.
Those around me groaned before chuckling to their companions about the near-cataclysmic state of the country coinciding with their great fortune in seeing a band that eagerly established themselves as innovators in the “indie rock” genre upon the release of You Forgot It in People (Arts & Crafts/Paper Bag) in 2002.
Throughout the over two-hour set, the touring lineup produced a concert experience for the eager fan. The upbeat selection seemed hand picked for prime audience interaction. As “Cause=Time” began, it became evident that the audience and the band were equally enthralled.
Although the technical difficulties of The Vic and raucous hum of the audience sometimes made Drew’s voice inaudible, what could be heard sounded as crisp as ever. Unfortunately, after attempting to play “Superconnected” twice, technical difficulties ultimately won and ended the song. Thankfully, the night was not completely ruined.
The utterly orgiastic “KC Accidental” and “Fire Eye’d Boy” were executed with zest.
Despite the limitations of a relatively small touring group, many of the band’s strongest songs were sung by or in collaboration with Liz Powell from Land of Talk. Powell jumped in and out of many of the songs, giving the songs richer layers then on their original recorded versions.
The frenetic cornucopia of “Shampoo Suicide” read like a melodramatic yet stunning ballad. “7/3 (Shoreline),” originally featuring Feist seemed to be a test for both Powell and the audience, with Powell performing with gusto. The exquisite “Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl,” was a clear fan favorite and Powell performed song as if battle cry for the female half of the audience.
Throughout the night, the group gave equal opportunities for the various musicians performing under the Broken Social Scene umbrella to highlight some of their own work with seasoned tunes by Drew being spliced with songs such as the near-sing along “Hit the Wall” by Brendan Canning.
It was apparent that many members of the audience were unfamiliar with the members’ solo projects, but the overall family-like atmosphere within the venue coupled with the fervor of the band made the evening a more worthwhile experience.
-Britt Julious
Broken Social Scene:www.brokensocialscene.ca
Arts & Crafts: www.arts-crafts.ca
Paper Bag: www.paperbagrecords.com