Last Tuesday Sonar was overflowing with patrons out to see alternative group Brand New’s first tour since the release of their latest album, Daisy, in July of 2010.
The time off hadn’t left them rusty, with the quintet packing in an 80-minute set brimming with energy, albeit with a tormented aftertaste.
Opening for the Long Island group was singer-songwriter Kevin Devine, who tried to pump the crowd up with his light-hearted yet introspective melodies. Although Devine has been steadily growing a devoted fan base since his first album release in 2003 and is a frequent opener for Brand New, his performance failed to impress.
On a recording his voice sounds clear, heartfelt and beseeching; onstage all that could be heard was whining. While his songs were catchy, they were not memorable. Only one track, “Another Bag of Bones,” stood out, and unfortunately it was the opening number. Devine was still appreciated by some, but the majority of the crowd was counting down the songs until Brand New stepped out, anxious to see what state the group would be in.
Each of Brand New’s four albums have been consecutively more intricate and another step down into despair.
The toll the music industry takes on bands like Brand New was seen clearly in the brutal attack they served each song. Some bands rely on flashy stage antics or humorous anecdotes to keep the crowd happy and moving. Brand New did none of this, stepping onto the stage and immediately launching into “Sowing Song (Yeah),” the opener off their major label debut The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Lead singer Jesse Lacey was minimal in his interactions with the audience throughout the night yet commanded the room with a raw, devoted intensity.
The crowd began churning and twisting from the first breakdown in the chorus of “Sowing Song” and didn’t stop until the final chord finished, ringing out in the last heavy number of the night, “Archers.”
Brand New has switched genres considerably since their pop-punk debut, Your Favorite Weapon, and playing fan favorites drove the crowd into a frenzy at the concert. The variety of music lovers at Sonar reflected each step in Brand New’s career: plaid-vested post-emo kids sang along wholeheartedly to “Degausser” while 20-something women reminisced about their 13-year-old agonies with “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad” as the soundtrack.
Instead of witty quips between each number, the band effortlessly switched tempo and atmosphere, going from head-bopping “Seventy Times Seven” to angsty “The Quiet Things No One Ever Knows” as if they were written side by side.
The few times Lacey addressed the audience, it was with humble gratitude at the size of the turnout, or with apology for going so long without updates on new albums or tours. “We’re trying to write more,” he insisted. “We’re tired of bumming you guys out though, so we’re trying to write happier [songs].” He did reassure the crowd that they would be touring again soon, which was met with the loudest cheers of the night.
The final song was the slowest and the final flashback to Brand New’s happier days. Lacey took the stage by himself for “Soco Amaretto Lime,” the last song off of Weapon and the ultimate prom night slow dance, with lyrics commemorating passed out moments on the overpass and being misunderstood.
Whether an audience member was moved because the song spoke to them 10 years ago, or was just moving them that night, there was a tangible switch in energy from blistering angst to poignant nostalgia. It was a look into the past for the crowd and the band, as shown when Lacey subtly changed the ending lyrics to “You’re just jealous ‘cause we’re young and in love,” making himself the subject and the audience the cause.
It’s true they’re no longer 18, and 10 years on the road will wear even the hardiest bands out. Yet as their music becomes more raw and despondent, so too do the musicians, allowing their live shows to become more mature and well-tightened. No encore ensued, although it was highly demanded, and the crowd left praising the band’s comeback, unsure as to how long it may last.
