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Broadcast at The Bluebird Theatre in Denver, CO - 10/26/03
It was destined to be an enchanted soire in Denver, as the fall landscapes would permit Broadcast to take the stage in front of a dedicated 75 fans at the Bluebird Theatre but something was missing. Perhaps a fuller crowd (the Bluebird has reportedly oversold the venue to a record-breaking 900 people for a D.J. Spooky set) would have set the mood right. Though it was a Sunday night, this should not have deterred folks from attending a show with considerable publicity from Radio 1190 (KVCU Denver-Boulder). This was an all-ages event, yet perhaps the $14 cover charge was not appealing to those interested in just sampling a band full of lush imagery and delicate melodies. During their fifty-minute set, Broadcast only touched upon two songs from their provocative 2000 debut, Noise Made By People. While Come on Lets Go and Unchanging Window were warmly welcomed, the group lacked an overall synchrony with the audience. The crowd must have been anticipating a showcase of the groups entire catalogue instead of the unfamiliar tracks from their new album,Haha Sound, and this was to the dismay of many; Booklovers was the only song from their early days that they managed to squeeze into their already short set. While its true that they might have been rushed to finish before the city curfew, it seemed as though they were lollygagging long enough on stage instead of breezing through their rich arsenal of elegant ballads. The general experience of the show was reminiscent of going home with someone you find quite attractive at a pub, but stepping into the streets, you realize that he or she is in fact quite minging. This was the case with Broadcasts show. On record, the band is stellar and virtually untouchable in the world of indie-electronica. On stage, they are unapologetically and shamefully forgettable. One reason for this is the fact that there is a guitarist who did fuck-all during the show and has very little presence on their records anyway. Another downfall of the bands live performance was that the drummer seemed to be auditioning for Neil Perts job instead of filling in gently during keyboard hooks. Perhaps Broadcast compresses their drums to a high degree on record, but in concert, it is far more difficult do so. In addition, singer Trish Keenan alternated between volatile and unimpassioned, which is true on their releases as well; but she seemed to lack the enthusiasm that a singer should possess onstage, which took away from the ambiance of the group. Her attire even provided a major dichotomy towards her presence during the show. She donned garb from what seemed to be the swinging 1960s, but her personae was just that: a mask for what she felt the need to conceal. While her voice was in top form, she seemed to swagger about as if she were for reasons unknown, attempting to channel Grace Slick or Stevie Nicks. Perhaps she was reaching for their ability to swim in a sea of retarded sexuality as This Is Spinal Tap phrases it. In all fairness, their good-natured intentions were in place and this was proven when Keenan crooned Where Youth and Laughter Go; but this was overshadowed by their emphasis on blips and bops that served as interludes for unmentionable selections from Haha Sound. A piece of advice for Broadcast is to find a way to use one of their three (!!!) keyboards to replace the need for a drummer at gigs. This would surely help them return to the serene place that they once inhabited. At the show, they seemed to leave behind their gentle roots for the scary realm of Jam Bands. One redeeming quality of the show was the background film that served as a glimpse into the groups personal world. Mark McDonald, a friend of the groups from Birmingham, provided the video footage that was in fact effective as a divertissement for the groups lackluster performance that evening. In the end, the dumb Yanks at the show just shouted out woo and woo-who to the point where Broadcast simply seemed confused. Those who were not completely knackered were confused as well, but perhaps next time, Broadcast can play in a hookah bar where there will be a plethora of beanbag chairs and dim lighting as opposed to a club known for raucous lunacy and mayhem.
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