Broken Social Scene + Here We Go Magic – Metropolis – 12.18.10
Broken Social Scene fans were outside Metropolis hours before the show, patiently waiting in line for the show of their lives. It’s been years since their last show here in Montreal, and the anticipation was building. Here We Go Magic presented themselves to a surprisingly open crowd, who were keen to hear the band that Broken Social Scene chose to open the show. While Here We Go Magic’s sound was beautifully and uniquely fabricated with simultaneous hints of country and psychedelic rock, their stage presence was slightly lacking. Here We Go Magic’s latest album, Pigeons, is truly delightful; with it’s soft synths and mystical feel, and makes for the most perfect summer road trip album, but unfortunately it didn’t translate all that well live.
For many bands, after being together for over ten years, playing the old songs becomes sort of a chore, and they tend to stick to their newer material, even though it may leave the fans disappointed. Broken Social Scene however, wanted none of this and succeeded in pleasing fans new and old, performing a mix of everything from Feel Good Lost to You Forgot It In People all the way to their latest masterpiece, Forgiveness Rock Record. “KC Accidental” was followed by their latest single “Texico Bitches”, and then “7/4 Shoreline” and “Fire Eye’d Boy” from way back in 2005. They played almost all of the new album which really got the crowd moving around with energy, as well as the fantastically crafted “Guilty Cubicles” for a more ambient moment.
Not only did they play an extensive range of songs from their entire discography for nearly three hours, but they also brought on collaborators from way back when. Previous touring and writing members were brought on stage to everyone’s surprise, which resulted in a summation of around twelve band members present on stage throughout most of the night. You heard right – twelve. Along with the three guitarists - Apostle of Hustle’s Andrew Whiteman, Broken Social Scene founders Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, Do Make Say Think’s Charles Spearin and The Stills’ Liam O’Neil were up on trumpet and saxophone, alongside the lovely and pregnant Amy Millan and Evan Cranley of Stars. Amy Millan modestly came on stage to fill in for Emily Haines’ parts in “Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl”, knocked out the crowd with her contagious energy and then left it back to Kevin for the rest.
Broken Social Scene’s encore was like no other. On top of the numerous other surprise guests, the legendary Andy Kim was brought onstage to play his own “How’d We Ever Get This Way”. Broken Social Scene then got back to business with another three song encore of “Looks Just Like The Sun”, “Ibi Dreams of Pavement”, and a special rendition of “It’s All Gonna Break”. Every past and present member got onstage for an unreal, super-extended version of the song with teasing breaks and pauses, for an absolutely insane climax, ending with the godly brass section, tearing it up one last time. They usually don’t play it the same night as they play “Meet Me In The Basement”, (for obvious reasons of course – too much epic goodness to handle!) but they decided to treat Montreal. Just as everyone thought it was truly over, Kevin Drew came back on stage saying that he didn’t want to leave! It’s clear that even after being on a constant nine-month long tour, Broken Social Scene still had enough energy to put on an amazing show, and it is also clear that Montreal still holds a special place in the band members’ hearts. – Amelia Robitaille
Broken Social Scene
Here We Go Magic
Photography by Amelia Robitaille
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