Concert Review: Brand New
With Manchester Orchestra and The Builders and the Butchers: written the same night.
So, tonight’s concert was an event to remember. It all started out, thanks to some connections and Edge 103.9 FM, with getting a catered, pre-show, BBQ with Manchester Orchestra. Most of the food was excellent, with the exception of the burgers, which I could only tolerate half of. I primarily visited with three of the guys from the band, Robert McDowell (guitar), Jonathan Corley (bass), and Jeremiah Edmond (drums), though I met and briefly talked to all of them. The radio station put together some promo photo shots with the band and the 15-20 people or so that were invited to the BBQ, and then I took pictures of the band with and for my brother.
I’ve been to over 80 concerts and been backstage or hung out with the band before/after at a number of the shows, so while exciting, this was hardly a first for me. What stood out though was the opening act, The Builders and the Butchers. I’ve rarely been impressed with an opening act, and tonight, I was impressed by the opening act. They put together a great live show with banjo infused rock and a peculiar use of two drummers, who each played other instruments (keyboard and trumpet) when not on the drums. While drumming, they played both in sync, and separate parts, which made their show even more interesting to me.
Manchester Orchestra started out slow. They seemed to be lacking energy or emotion, and honestly, they seemed a little quiet/down during the BBQ as well. I figured the rigors of the road and the tour was wearing on them. During the BBQ more than one guy mentioned missing their wife/girlfriend. However, as they wrapped up their set, the last 3 songs were filled with emotion and energy and they ended on a very high note, and with deep, intellectual and intelligent lyrics, as well. Those three songs may have been the highlight of the entire night.
As Brand New started their set, brilliantly with You Won’t Know, I worked my way through the crowd into, and through, the pit. By the time their set list reached Jesus Christ I was in the very front of the crowd against the fence. They played every song I hope they would with the exception of Seventy Times Seven. Otherwise, incredible set list. During their final song, my personal favorite, Play Crack the Sky, the girl next to me laid her against my shoulder as she belted the amazing lyrics heavenward, before turning towards me and kissing my cheek as she thanked me for keeping her from being squished against the fence the many times the pit pressed up against us at the front. The band performed with emotion and energy, and made all the songs feel rich and beautiful. They couldn’t have opened and closed with better songs than they did, and they mixed in songs from all their albums well — just wish Seventy Times Seven would have made an appearance.
All in all, from the first song from the opening act through the final song from the headliner this was a great show. The free food and fun times with one of the bands was also a ton of fun. Good times all around and I’ll certainly be buying some music from The Builders and the Butchers, and will do my best to see Brand New and Manchester Orchestra the next time they respectively come to town.
