Band break-ups have come in many shapes and sizes down through the years, ranging from low-key “indefinite hiatus” announcements to explosive fist-fights. Has anyone broken up via their own merchandise range, though? Seems like a new one to me, but that’s what Brand New appear to have done. Just this month, new t-shirts were released in their merch store bearing a “2000-2018” slogan. Is this the end for these pioneering alt-rock Long Islanders? Nobody seems to know for sure.
Frontman Jesse Lacey has gone on record denying an impending break-up; indeed, this would surely be the earliest announcement of that nature in history! Conversely, sources close to the band are also confirming that 2018 WILL be the end. Either way, being now mid-June 2016, there’s the real possibility that this weekend’s 2 shows in Montreal will be the last time we ever see them around here. Indeed, only an event of this magnitude would make this reviewer venture into the insanity of downtown Montreal on F1 weekend, two nights in a row!
The first show, on Saturday, sold out quickly, and unsurprisingly so given their loyal following. Upon arriving at Olympia, the place is already packed out and hot. Philadelphia’s Mewithoutyou take to the stage just before Brand New, and are very well received. Looking like Local Natives, sounding like old-school Taking Back Sunday and Glassjaw (and Brand New, for that matter…), their expansive brand of rock sets the stage nicely for the headliners.
Frontman Aaron Weiss endears himself further to the crowd by relating that he spent a lot of time in our fair city on account of a girlfriend he once had who attended Concordia, before that “turned to a nightmare”. However, Montreal would “always hold a special painful place in my heart”. Nobody seems to know whether to cheer and clap to such sad sentiments or not!
Around 10pm, Jesse Lacey wanders onto the stage, and strums out the acoustic anthem Soco Amaretto Lime, the only offering from 2001’s breakthrough Your Favorite Weapon that we hear at either show this weekend. As the song fades out, Jesse steps back from the mic and lets the crowd sing the outro refrain of “YOU’RE JUST JEALOUS COS WE’RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE!” at the top of their collective lungs; they duly oblige.
It’s a rousing start to the evening, and one song in, you know it’s gonna be a good night. As the last chords fade out, the band launches in a furious rendition of Mene, and the crowd absolutely explodes into a frenzy. Gasoline follows, to keep up the pace, before some respite arrives with the slow burning Millstone, which sounds as fresh today as it did 10 years ago on 2006’s The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me masterpiece. Goosebumps ensue.
You Stole sees 2 drummers on stage concurrently, with a projection of huge solar flares at the back of the stage giving a spooky, moody vibe, which continues with Degausser, from 2003’s epic Deja Entendu record. As that fades out, the unmistakable bass chords of Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades gallop in, and the crowd erupts into life again. Crowdsurfers threaten to overwhelm the security guards tasked with trying to catch them, and it feels like 2003 all over again.
The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows and new single I Am A Nightmare follow, with the latter already known word-for-word by a good chunk of the crowd despite having only just been released. Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t begins with just Jesse and his guitar, and of course a few hundred voices at full volume (as with every song this evening!), before bursting into life with the full band at the chorus, and ending with extended guitar and drum solo’s. You Won’t Know, another slow burner with an explosive chorus follows that, before an epic Sowing Season (more goosebumps), Jesus, and Limousine finish the main set. As it concludes, Jesse screams “NEVER AGAIN!” while slowly backing away from the mic, giving the outro and incredibly raw, emotional feel as his voice gets more and more faint.
The set ends in ripples of feedback and distortion. It’s another wonderful moment in a set full of them.
After a brief pause, Jesse returns to the stage alone for the acoustic Moshi Moshi and Play Crack The Sky, thanks the security for catching all the “angsty teenagers”, and then departs the stage for good after 95 minutes that nobody here will forget in a hurry. “Brand New 2000-2018” is projected onto the back of the stage as the crowd slowly filters out, singing random parts of Brand New songs in places, still in full voice. It’s almost a cathartic way for everyone in attendance to pay their respects, and say their thank you’s and goodbyes to Brand New, in case this really is the end. Not me though; I’ll be back tomorrow, to do it all over again!
Entering Olympia on Sunday night, the vibe is notably different. The balcony, packed out last night, isn’t even open, and where last night the floor area was packed for at least 10 rows, tonight it’s no challenge to reach even the third row. That’s not to say the crowd is sparse; though not sold out, there’s certainly a decent crowd assembled. It just feels much more relaxed. As ELO’s Mr Blue Sky cuts out over the PA system, Jesse again lurches out onto a dark stage, picks up his guitar, beginning the set in a similar way to yesterday, but this time starts with Sealed To Me. As a wall of feedback fades out, Sowing Season creaks into life. Though there is much less moshing and no crowd-surfers, there is no less enthusiasm from the crowd. The goosebumps are there, just the same, as all in attendance scream out “I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND, I AM JUST A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO FEEL!” in harmony with Jesse.
The Archers Bows Have Broken keeps up the pace where Mene did yesterday, followed by At The Bottom and Gasoline; fists are pumped in the air across the floor section. You Stole, Degausser, and Sic Transit Gloria are delivered one after the other, just as yesterday, and again, the crowd response responds rapturously. On Luca (another change from last night’s set), a few of the token meatheads in the crowd (every show seems to have at least one…) take it upon themselves to shout inane comments such as “F*** yeah!” and “Go Jesse!!!!” whilst Jesse is in the process of pouring his heart out into his mic. Jesse responds by changing the words at that point to “shut the f*** up”, before quickly explaining between verses “I’m really sorry, I don’t like foul language.” It’s a funny moment, but doesn’t last for long, as Jesse launches into the grandiose distorted guitar outro with a screaming “JUST LET ME KNOW, WHERE YOU’VE BEEN!!!” The rest of the set and encore follow a similar pattern to Saturday’s show.
During the encore, Jesse describes how every time he plays a song, it’s now one less time they’ll be playing it, which is a bittersweet feeling, seeming to confirm the future 2018 split after all. After thanking us for our support over the past 15 years, he and guitarist Vinnie Accardi again run through Play Crack The Sky with just a guitar, tambourine, and maracas, before leaving the stage for possibly the last time here in Montreal.
Will this be the last time Brand New play here? All who ventured out to Olympia this weekend hope we get the chance to re-live the Brand New live experience again, but really, only time will tell between now and 2018. If this was indeed their last visit here, these 2 shows were a spectacular send-off, and a reminder of exactly how consistently good Brand New have been throughout their time together, both on record and in a live setting. Without a doubt, they will be sorely missed.
Saturday:
Soco Amaretto Lime
Mene
Gasoline
Millstone
At the Bottom
You Stole
Degausser
Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades
The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows
I Am a Nightmare
Okay I Believe You, but My Tommy Gun Don’t
You Won’t Know
Sowing Season
Jesus
Limousine (MS Rebridge)
Moshi Moshi
Play Crack the Sky
Sunday:
Sealed to Me
Sowing Season
The Archers Bows Have Broken
At the Bottom
Gasoline
You Stole
Degausser
Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades
I Am a Nightmare
I Will Play My Game Beneath the Spin Light
Okay I Believe You, but My Tommy Gun Don’t
You Won’t Know
Brothers
Luca
Jesus
Limousine (MS Rebridge)
Play Crack the Sky
Review – Simon Williams
Photos – Steve Gerrard
