When California’s psych rock n’ roll trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) burst onto the scene amid the garage rock explosion in the early 2000s with their hit ‘Whatever Happened To My Rock N Roll (Punk Song)’, the band looked ready to take on the world.
Unfortunately when most trends pass, so does the mainstream interest. BRMC’s ride at the top died as quickly as it happened. Thankfully, those who connected with the band were in for the long haul and continued to follow them through thick and thin. This diehard fan base has allowed the band to return to Melbourne 12 years on and grace the stage of one of the city’s finest live music venues for a memorable, sold out show that emanated some kickass rock n’ roll.
Without the need for a hello, the band got straight down to business as bassist/singer Robert Levon Been pounded the bassline to surprising opener ‘Hate The Taste’ off their latest album, Specter At The Feast. The band sounded solid right from the get-go, playing with swagger and style as well as the grit and grime that comes with good ole rock n’ roll music.
The new album songs ‘Let The Day Begin’ and ‘Rival’ both came off with so much groove that it was hard for the crowd to sit still. Guitarist/co-vocalist Peter Hayes attacked his guitar with his signature bluesy riffs while looking calm and collected with a smoke dangling from his lips and his 50s dress style. Drummer Leah Shapiro kept the rhythm section in place without over doing it, keeping a solid beat that worked wonders and proved that less is indeed more.
Whether it was bashing out groovin’ numbers like ‘Berlin’ or the hard rockin’ ‘Conscience Killer’, BRMC really gave the happy punters everything they had. Displeased with the space between the stage and audience, Been requested that the people of Melbourne fill the gap, and that’s exactly what they did (much to the disapproval of security). The band continued on with killer tune after killer tune and finished with ‘Spread Your Love’ – a song so catchy and worthy of some serious dancing. You would’ve had to be made of wet rags to be standing still.
It was inevitable that the hungry crowd would beg for more, and that’s exactly what happened. Returning for an encore, Been and Hayes appeared with unplugged acoustic guitars and nothing more than a retro microphone between them. Requesting some quiet from the audience, they strummed their way through ‘Complicated Situation’ and ‘Shuffle Your Feet’. It was like watching two guys in their bedroom just strum away, taking the music back to its basics as though they were writing songs right there in front of us.
With an appreciative applause, Shapiro appeared back behind her kit before the band tore into the anthemic ‘Whatever Happened To My Rock N Roll (Punk Song)’. The room exploded with one more round of highly receptive cheers before the band brought things to a close with the mellow (yet loud) blues inspired number, ‘Sell It’.
Watching the smiles on peoples faces and hearing praise given by the punters as we left the venue proved that BRMC came, saw, and delivered. If you complain that there’s nothing good happening in music right now and you weren’t there to see BRMC, you’ve been going to the wrong gigs. Just sayin’.
Whatever happened to rock n’ roll? With shows like this you can wonder no more. It’s still alive and well and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club damn well made sure of that.
