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lokidials says+2 Votes UP / DOWN
Alright... Let's see where to start. This is the third time I have had the chance to see BRMC in the past year, and it was quite an event. The venue was TINY which was cool. It felt like the guys were back in their original element in the very intimate club. So I'll give my two ideas of the show which will aptly be labeled The Good, and of course followed by The Bad.

The Bad: The College of Toledo. Thank you for supplying the biggest load of drunken, loud, obnoxious, white shell necklaced, football jersey wearing, sideways tilted hat sporting douche bags to inhabit the state of Ohio. When the guys swayed into the opener "The Likes Of You" it felt like I was at a date-rapist infested shindig at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house. This moment became more clear when they kicked into "Spread Your Love" (Which of course everyone knew) and the bastards started jumping around punching people. What a way to show your appreciation guys.
Also, The Strobes. Like I said, this place was SMALL but for some reason the crew used the same strobes they use for giant club/arena shows. At one point I felt like my brain were going to start leaking out of my eyes. Now don't get me wrong, I dig some strobing out, but during every song? We couldn't see the band play for half of the show!

Now The Good: As always, the guys were in spectacular form. Their set was amazing! Unlike the Baby 81 tour, they touched on a lot of older tunes from the s/t and take them on. Very awesome! Peter did some new solo tunes, the same ones I saw he did at the Supersmall such as Hank's "Cool Water" and his new one "A fine Way to Lose." Robert's new one "River Styx" was amazing to see up close. It's funny because it sounds like more of a "Peter Song" with the rockin' bluesy riff. Despite lack of enthusiasm from their crew Peter came back on for an encore minus Robert and plus a roadie to blaze though "Steal A Ride" he topped of the night with "Fault Line " and "Complicated Situation."
Despite not going on for the encore Robert was awesome enough to hang around outside the place, talking to everyone, signing things, and taking pictures.

So all in all the show was pretty great, if any band could pull off an amazing show in the worst of settings it would have to be BRMC.

Posted Sunday, April 20, 2008 pm30 at 6:22pm
jditlevs says+4 Votes UP / DOWN
Like Mr. "lokidials," I saw BRMC for the third time at Frankies.

Every show I've attended sent a different vibe to the crowd and with the little venue, I expected a bit more than I got as far as the show was concerned, but in a conversation with "lokidials," I believe he said it best when he stated that it was a great performance, but not necessarily a good show due to all the belligerent drunks crammed into such a small, hot, sweaty place.

That said, the post-EP material songs blew my mind. BRMC continues to experiment, bending sounds and themes that inspires me to keep going to shows whenever I'm close enough to attend.

Hearing some of the lesser-known tunes like "Mercy" and Peter's cover of "Cool Water" brought an interesting dynamic into the mix. Though Robert didn't feel like playing the acoustic tunes, I was glad to have the opportunity to hear songs I've never heard live before. So many bands stick to the same set list as they tour the country. This happened to me when I saw the Cure several years ago and I couldn't have been more frustrated with the fact that they only played the new stuff for commercial purposes.

I would like to comment on more of the intense songs, but sadly, I had a hard time taking them in due to the concentrated strobe effects during those numbers.

Concerning the technicalities, I vouch for less strobe next time the band plays at such a small venue. I know I'm biased because heavy strobe literally knocks me out, but I mainly cared that I couldn't look at the stage most of the time. It felt like I was just listening to a great live album between fading in and out of consciousness.

In spite of the wicked strobe, I greatly appreciate the band's readiness to communicate with fans after shows. Talking with the band adds another level of connection to the concert that most people never get when they go to some arena concert. That's the great thing about this band: you're never cheated in quality, but they're not so above themselves to relate to people like a novice garage band.

Like I said, I'd love to touch more on the songs, but the strobe melted my memory! I can say, however, that I loved it and I'm going to try and see these guys in Mexico City in a few weeks and hope to get another new experience there.
Posted Monday, April 21, 2008 pm30 at 7:11pm
jditlevs says0 Votes UP / DOWN
Like Mr. "lokidials," I saw BRMC for the third time at Frankies.

Every show I've attended sent a different vibe to the crowd and with the little venue, I expected a bit more than I got as far as the show was concerned, but in a conversation with "lokidials," I believe he said it best when he stated that it was a great performance, but not necessarily a good show due to all the belligerent drunks crammed into such a small, hot, sweaty place.

That said, the post-EP material songs blew my mind. BRMC continues to experiment, bending sounds and themes that inspires me to keep going to shows whenever I'm close enough to attend.

Hearing some of the lesser-known tunes like "Mercy" and Peter's cover of "Cool Water" brought an interesting dynamic into the mix. Though Robert didn't feel like playing the acoustic tunes, I was glad to have the opportunity to hear songs I've never heard live before. So many bands stick to the same set list as they tour the country. This happened to me when I saw the Cure several years ago and I couldn't have been more frustrated with the fact that they only played the new stuff for commercial purposes.

I would like to comment on more of the intense songs, but sadly, I had a hard time taking them in due to the concentrated strobe effects during those numbers.

Concerning the technicalities, I vouch for less strobe next time the band plays at such a small venue. I know I'm biased because heavy strobe literally knocks me out, but I mainly cared that I couldn't look at the stage most of the time. It felt like I was just listening to a great live album between fading in and out of consciousness.

In spite of the wicked strobe, I greatly appreciate the band's readiness to communicate with fans after shows. Talking with the band adds another level of connection to the concert that most people never get when they go to some arena concert. That's the great thing about this band: you're never cheated in quality, but they're not so above themselves to relate to people like a novice garage band.

Like I said, I'd love to touch more on the songs, but the strobe melted my memory! I can say, however, that I loved it and I'm going to try and see these guys in Mexico City in a few weeks and hope to get another new experience there.
Posted Monday, April 21, 2008 pm30 at 7:11pm
Ydfalcon says0 Votes UP / DOWN
I was at this show as well and I have to say, aside from the very heavy strobes mentioned in the other two reviews, I think this was the best of the now three times I have seen the band live.

The intimacy of such a small venue was incredible. I live just 20 miles away, but this was my first show at Frankie's, and I was pretty amazed that BRMC was playing such a small place. It's typically the kind of bar/venue that local bands will play in, not mid-level rock bands on national tours.

From the moment I walked in and saw the stage, and then compounded when the boys broke into the first few notes (and Peter's scream) of "The Likes of You," I knew it was going to be a great show, and I wasn't at all wrong.

One of the more interesting things here was that the stage was so small, that they couldn't fit the piano on it and still have room to move around. I assume this is why Peter treated us to a few of the more rarely played live gems like "Long Black Veil" and "Cool Water." It was also a great treat to hear "20 Hours" live. I wasn't sure if they would play it, as it seemed they had at some shows on this tour, but not all of them. The song has had a bit of a sentimental attachment for me, as I always associate it with holding my girlfriend (The lovely Jen_Lennon here), whom I only get to see roughly once a month. (The first time she heard it was on my copy of the Berlin 7", and I was doing just that) So to hear it live, as well as calling her so she could hear it over the phone... I am not ashamed to admit I cried a little bit. It was a beautiful moment that really epitomized the power of what music can do and also just goes to show just how great the boys of BRMC are at creating wonderful music.

The rest of the show was simply fantastic. The set list this time around was definitely my favorite of all the times I have seen them, and the energy of the performance was great. BRMC may have been put onto a small stage, but with the energy in that crowd, you wouldn't have known it.

As for the drunken frat boy types, I must have been standing in a slightly different spot from the other two reviewers so far, because I didn't really see them. There did seem like there may have been a few guys like that near the front left, in front of Robert's side of the stage, but they weren't near enough to me to be anything more than silhouettes, so I wasn't bothered by them.

I was interested as to why Robert didn't come back out for the encore. I got the impression that he was having a frustrating night with some sound issues, and I wonder if that might have been the cause. Either way, once again, a unique set of circumstances led to a very new and special experience. I was able to get closer for the encore, and in doing so, I got to watch Pete up close as he played "Complicated Situation," which, that song was the biggest catalyst in making me decide to try and teach myself the harmonica, so it was really cool to see him play it.

When everything was over, I bought a little merchandise to do my bit to support the band as much as possible, and though I didn't stick around to meet and talk with the boys this time because I had to get back so I could make in to some early classes the next morning, all the same I left thoroughly pleased with how the night went.

By the way, I also would like to add that I love the whole deal with the handprinted individual posters for every show on this tour. Didn't realize they were even individually numbered. I bought one from this show and it is now framed in my dining room.
Posted Monday, April 21, 2008 pm30 at 10:35pm
Whitey says0 Votes UP / DOWN
I am from Toledo, and this was my 9th time seeing the band live. I was very excited to see them in my home town. This show didn't even rate in my top 5. Robert acted like he didn't want to be there. Weird disinterested vibe from him all night. Peter was great as usual, talked to him outside before the show. Wasn't the worst I've seen, but no where near the best.
Posted Wednesday, April 23, 2008 am30 at 9:01am