For a band that constantly sing about pulling out of personal darkness, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club certainly like to adorn themselves in it. Since 2001, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have been shuffling their feet near a scene in which their peers have burned out and they remain derivative in a time where stark terminology has been buried. When singer Robert Been’s father, the bands producer and sound technician, passed away from a heart attack in the middle of a tour, BRMC were faced with tragedy that inspired their sixth album Spector At The Feast. Considering all six of their albums (which have firmly remained in my heavy rotation since 2001), Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have continued to do what they do well. Retaining the venomous taste of their own brand of blues bourbon aged in rock n roll barrels, BRMC have always sought salvation in rushes of sneering rock n roll fervor and brooding blues quicksand. There is something positive to be said both about bands that evolve dramatically and the bands that don’t necessarily need to. Being the latter, BRMC entertained an adoring audience at The Observatory with songs spanning across their 13 year career which is easily defined by rushes of distorted riffs and dual-frontman snarls. Opening the night with the chest-thumping “Beat The Devils Tattoo” BRMC started their 2 hours with a sneer. The heavy and menacing sludge of “Red Eyes and Tears” and the quick-burning urgency of “Berlin” as well as the stripped-down “Gospel Song” and harmonica-accented “Screaming Gun” showed BRMC’s ability to loosen and tighten their audience. Drummer Leah Shapiro’s style was tight and heavy but also laid-back as each cymbal crash punctuated BRMC’s signature grit which matured into a raw garage/blues/punk/rock feast as the night went on. Fans on the floor were revving like an engine during the eldest tracks and the sleazy swagger of “Spread Your Love” lifted us all into frenzy of blustering scuzzy guitars and hell-raising growls. Encore songs “Fire Walker” and “Sell It” were no match for closer “Whatever Happened To My Rock N Roll (Punk Song)” with an unhinged Robert Been giving the crowd one last glimpse of his bass held high like a rock n roll rifle.
Like other bands of their ilk (Jesus and Mary Chain, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spiritualized, Ride, The Velvet Underground) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have created a provocative soundtrack for the rock n roll peep show. Their synesthetic variety of sexy red-light smoke-filled distortion, noisy psychedelia, and straightforward blues paints a picture that looks the way rock n roll sounds. As the years go by, BRMC work diligently to write albums that are both highly personal and also spacious enough for strangers to explore and identify with. Some of their craft might seem a bit worn-in, but who doesn’t like the comfort of slipping into their favorite old black leather jacket. Photographed by me for BUZZBANDS LA
