Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ La Tulipe

What a day April 2nd was: it went up to 27 degrees.  So needless to say, I did not at all feel like being inside on any level.

When I managed to come out of my summer-like tizzy… I remembered that I had the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club concert to go to and off to La Tulipe I went. I so did not feel like being inside, but I do love listening to this band, so I made the ultimate sacrifice of leaving the most amazing weather ever for that time of year and was I ever thankful that I did. 

I showed up a bit late, however the first thing that got me was the light show. I have seen a lot of bands in my time, but not many that impressed me with such an impressive display of lights like that. 

It almost made me forget that they were playing a song, but when I shook myself out of the dazzling spectacle before my eyes, I realized that it was “Red Eyes, No Tears” they were playing and alas they hooked me.    

They then led into one of their older tunes, “Ain’t No Easy Way" from their 2005 album Howl. It was at this moment that drummer Leah Shapiro caught my attention. I had never got a chance to see her when she played for the Raveonettes, and I wondered what she would be like taking over from Nick Jago. However she shocked and surprised me by proving to be just as good, if not better as any male drummer I have ever seen. 

The stage had an air of sophistication in the sense that they did seem like a more seasoned band. I attributed this to the light show that continued to flabbergast me. It rendered me to wonder how this band was able to not get lost with all the flashing lights behind them.   

However just when I had this wonder, lead singer Peter Hayes began to play his cover of “Visions of Johanna.”   Midway through, he had to change his guitar.  It took him some time to get it together, but when he finally did the audience showed their loyalty and forgave him.  Was it because of it being Good Friday, only God knows. 

The house was packed to capacity. Regardless of how hot it was outside, which in turn created major heat inside the venue, but this did not stop the crowd from completely loosing it when they then played “Spread Your Love” from their 2001 album B.R.M.C. 

They then ended their set with “American X” from their 2007 album Baby 81, but it did not take much effort for the audience to get them back on stage for the 4 song encore, which included "666 Conducer" from Baby 81 and "Shadows Keeper" from their newly-released Beat the Devil’s Tattoo album.   

Heat or no heat, this band blew my mind away.  The light show was up there with some of the biggest bands I have seen.  Although it was definitely terrace weather, I am so glad that did not sway me from seeing this awesome band.