Barenaked Ladies at Bristol O2 Academy - Music Review
Posted on: 2015-10-09
Our rating:
By the end of the main set it?s been a flawless class in ?How to do a rock show 101?; Drum solo-check, guitar solos-check, crowd pleasing hits-check and hit TV show theme-CHECK (performing the full 2:30 version of their ?Big Bang Theory? theme).
Celebrating their 27th year, BNL rolled into Bristol on Thursday October 8th 2015 for the penultimate show of their UK tour in support of their latest studio album, Silverball. This is their 3rd album without founder and former co-frontman Steve Page, and I had my concerns that although on record, their last 3 albums have been stellar from start to finish, the live shows might lack some of the chemistry and life they had with Steve on stage; I was happy to be proved very, very wrong….
The show opened with a set from Colin Hay; if you’re younger than 35-40 you’re probably wondering who that is. He’s the very not Australian frontman from 80’s group Men at Work who had the massive hit “Down Under”. I had no idea what to expect, but him speaking with a Scottish accent was rather surprising (having emigrated to Australia with his family aged 14). It takes a special kind of musician to captivate an audience (who have not paid to see you) with just yourself and an acoustic guitar but Colin managed this spectacularly with his witty anecdotes about his Scottish and Australian roots and engagement with the crowd, coupled with his stellar songwriting.
He opened with a song called “Goodnight Romeo” which was a gorgeous tribute to his late father. The acoustic rendition of Men at Work’s “Overkill” showcased how a loop pedal should be used and got the second biggest cheer of the night behind an absolutely STUNNING acoustic rendition of “Down Under”, which, to my ears at least, knocks the original out of the park. Now into his 60’s, his voice is still as recognisable and strong as it ever sounded back in the 80’s and songs he showcased from his latest album “Next Year People” show he’s still got the songwriting chops to match.
A nice surprise for his final two songs (Scattered in the Sand and Take the Long Way Home) was Kevin Hearn from the headliners joining him on stage to accompany him on accordion. I’m struggling to think of a better support act I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing.
After a short wait, BNL hit the stage to a thunderous roar from the Academy crowd. I still had an amount of trepidation, as I’d seen them so many times as a 5 piece and they’d never disappointed, and I was worried that I would leave feeling like something was missing; well my fears were dispelled as soon as they launched into “Get Back Up” the opening track from new record “Silverball”. Bristol clearly loves this band, and it’s probably why the band reciprocates by always including Bristol on their UK schedule.
My mind could not compute what was happening- there were 4 guys who I recognised, performing songs I’d grown up with over the last 17 years and they sounded the same…they sounded……better. What has happened to this band? They’re 27 years (almost to the day) into their career as a band, and are showing no signs of slowing down. The usual set up of Ed and Steve up front with Tyler (Drums), Jim (bass) and Kevin (everything!) supporting behind have gone…I never thought I’d witness this or type these words but this band might just be better than they ever were. That’s no knock on Steve - he was (and is) a superb front man and his vocals are unmatched by most in the business, but BNL have transformed themselves into something very, very special. Jim, usually stationery behind his upright bass, stage left, is strutting around the stage, Music Man Stingray in tow and the chemistry and musicianship between the four of them is something to behold.
The signature ad-libs are still present (tonight’s included a flawless rap about the Camera Obscura up at the Clifton Observatory and one about delicious scones from Boston Tea Party in town), along with the off-the-cuff witty banter between the bandmates. Their ad-libs, which are always centred around the city they’re playing in, have to be seen to be fully appreciated, but it’s a really unique feature of their live shows that they’ve been doing for 27 years and the novelty never wears off.
Clearly still enjoying themselves after nearly 3 decades, they romp through a stunning set, mixing in old hits (Old Apartment and Brian Wilson - which take on a new dynamic with Ed on Vocals), new hits (Matter of Time, Duct Tape Heart and Odds Are - which is one of the best tracks they’ve ever penned in my humble opinion), along with showcasing the talents of everyone in the band, with Jim and Kevin fronting the tracks they wrote for the new album (Narrow Streets and Passcode respectively).
They never miss a beat and it’s impossible to convey the energy they exude - I’ve seen this band countless times, and you NEVER see the same show twice. Not content with just performing their own material, they invite Colin Hay back on stage for a full band cover of Men at Work’s “Who Can It Be Now” and he also later joins them on the stage to share vocal duties on BNL hit “Pinch Me”
By the end of the main set it’s been a flawless class in “How to do a rock show 101”; Drum solo-check, guitar solos-check, crowd pleasing hits-check and hit TV show theme-CHECK (performing the full 2:30 version of their “Big Bang Theory” theme). Just for good measure, and why the hell not, they round it off with a medley of pop covers - including Sexual Healing, Shake it Off, Uptown Funk, Bohemian Rhapsody and topping it off with Let It Go - complete with Ed absolutely nailing *that* final high note (albeit an octave lower, but it’s still difficult I can tell you).
An absolutely perfect end to a perfect set - but wait, there’s more - in true BNL style, the encore is full of more surprises - Ed takes the helm at the drums and Tyler takes his spot front and centre on lead vocals for a trio of rock covers (including Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin) before exiting the stage to a frenzied crowd, promising that they have no intention of slowing down. Rejoice!
It’s always difficult to write a level-headed review about a band you love, but when the show is THAT special, it’s even harder to try and convey just how good it is in words. If you were there, you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about. If you weren’t, shame on you; if you think they’re just that band that wrote that “catchy song with the fast rapping” in the late 90’s and/or that band that “did the theme tune to Big Bang Theory” and they’re not worth your time - I implore you to buy a ticket next time they’re in town. I can promise that you will not be disappointed.
5/5
Reviewed by Jon Eve for 365 Bristol - the leading events and entertainment website for Bristol.
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
