Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Can you imagine a grittier name for a band than that? I’ve seen them several times, and, man, it remains gritty. Peter, stage right. Robert, stage left. Leah, back center. Minimal lighting, rear stage lights catching the band in near-silhouettes as they pound out their unique strain of garage-infused alternative rock. It’s not about the stage performance or the band’s members—it’s about the music.
Here we are, 20 years after the release of their magnificent album Howl, celebrating the entirety of it, plus other songs (though not “American X”—a grievance I’ll hold until I hear it live). The good news: BRMC are what they were 20 years ago, and what they were just three years ago on their last tour. Awesome. Gritty. Dark.
Howl isn’t performed in strict album sequence, but that’s okay—it flows in waves, soft then surging hard. It may not mirror the record’s familiar order, but it works live. And this particular performance should carry forward the promise of more concerts—and hopefully more albums—to come. The vocals are on point, the harmonies tight. The slower, acoustic numbers attest to the musicality of the their work, and they resonated beautifully through the venue—sterling, even.
Do the edgy songs need to sound good? We’d hope so. This night, the mix was surprisingly muddled, but aggression at any volume feels welcome when you know what BRMC’s about—and on that account, the band rang true. “U.S. Government,” anyone? Everyone? These days, the poles of opinion would sadly agree.
As for their trademark (lack of) lighting: When Peter thanked the crew, he gave a nod to Scott (or maybe Steve) who handles the lights—“Thanks for keeping the lights out of our eyes.” Really? Don’t dispel the BRMC aesthetic!
Regardless of visuals, it’s great to hear BRMC live again—to revisit an album that still defines a moment in our lives and even to see Leah’s subtle “pop” from her seat as she powers the band. If you’re in Texas, Arizona, or California, there’s still time to catch them—the Howl anniversary tour wraps October 25th.
Setlist:
Openers – Who can predict the where, the why, the fit, the quality? As such, I don’t always comment on them. The UK’s Humanist is paired with BRMC this tour, serving as a great opener that shouldn’t be missed.
The loosely post-punk collaborative effort stems from guitarist/writer Rob Marshall, more than ably accompanied bassist Wendy Rae Fowler and drummer Scott Pemberton.
The band doesn’t have a lead singer. Their first release featured Mark Lanegan, a friend of Rob’s who passing has it’s impact on their latest release in “Brothers.”
2024’s On the Edge of a Lost and Lonely World would have been on my yearly “best of” list had I had encountered it last year. Ed Harcourt, Tim Smith (formerly of Texas’ Midlake – their new album is out Nov. 7th), Isobel Campbell (formerly of Belle & Sebastian), and others take on the vocals, but collectively, the album stands as a whole, musically and lyrically. Credit to Rob Marshall and the band, it’s an overlooked gem.
Live, Jimmy Gnecco takes the vocal lead throughout – providing a focused nuance that suits the music admirably. It was clear the band was winning new fans as their set progressed. Arrive early to avoid regrets. Notably, they’re happy to chat and sign merch after the show. Vinyl and CDs (the new old school) as well as T-shirts are available.
