Philadelphia Review

[In The Margins]

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine ... _mode.html

Bunnymen, in nostalgic mode
They reprised their back numbers, looking murky but sounding good.
By Jonathan Valania

Ever since Jake Gyllenhaal pedaled his bicycle through the doomed, pre-apocalyptic wastes of suburbia to the portentous strains of "The Killing Moon" in 2001's Donnie Darko, Echo & the Bunnymen have been on the slow train back to relevance.

Judging by the one-third empty house that greeted the band's performance at the Keswick Theatre Sunday night, the train has yet to arrive at the station, but you could hear it coming around the bend. Running down numbers from their largely excellent back catalog with moody elan and precision, Echo & the Bunnymen - these days reduced to singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant, backed by hired guns - tickled the early '80s post-punk nostalgia bone of the mostly fortysomething faithful on hand. Ostensibly promoting their latest album, The Fountain, released late last year, the band largely ignored it, opting to spend the bulk of Sunday night's two-hour set riffling through their back pages, handsomely rendering deep-cut curios like "Villiers Terrace" and "Going Up" with the same verve and aplomb they afforded classics like "The Cutter" and "Do It Clean."

Befitting a band that has always gladly forsaken clarity for atmosphere, the Bunnymen performed their set cloaked in murky near-darkness, with the chain-smoking McCulloch wearing sunglasses for good measure.

As good as they sound in concert these days, the Bunnymen would be better served if their de facto Echo opened his mouth only during the songs. Sunday night, McCulloch's between-song patter - to the extent you could understand what he was saying through his thick, Liverpudlian burr - ran the gamut of ungracious (threatening to gag an overeager front-row fan with gaffer tape) to obnoxious ("How about that Paul McCartney? He spends 20 years married to a photographer and then winds up married to a tripod!").

Even crueler, he is no longer willing or able to summon up the wailing operatics of the band's signature song, the still-bewitching "The Killing Moon." While the band managed to re-create the song's eerie, foreboding sonics - the spectral pluck of the intro, the lowing moan of the whammy bar, the demonic clangs of piano, the shimmering web of strum - McCulloch didn't even attempt to re-create the towering tenor vocal central to the song's sweep and grandeur, a fact rendered all too conspicuous by its absence at the Keswick.

[blinkilite]

That sounds about right. However from a fan's perspective (not a reporter's) Mac's in-between-song banter was really quite funny. the girl he threatened to gag with gaffer tape was yelping the whole damn time and leaning on the stage. He told her how he didn't like yelping when he was up there doing his thing. And that its disrespectful to the rest of the fans to lean on the stage cuz everyone can't lean on the stage. She just wouldn't shut up. It was funny. Also had the typical complaints about it being too dark, only to be replied by Mac - "What if you were all blind? That'd be terrible wouldn't it.... But would it still be too dark?" and another time... "Less lights, more shagging." It was quite funny. He seemed in a great mood.

The set list was good, mixed it up a little, played mostly the same stuff as usual, but added Bedbugs, and Rust, and the Disease... only did Think I need it too from the fountain. Also they did a great extended version of Lips Like Sugar

The venue was kinda crappy. While the sound was nice, it is an old converted movie theatre with the metal seats bolted to the floor... seats too close together, and rows too close together to really dance about if you stand up. A weird venue for the bunnymen... but a good show nonetheless... can't wait to see them this weekend in NYC!!

[moses (2)]

How about that Paul McCartney? He spends 20 years married to a photographer and then winds up married to a tripod!


GOOD ONE

[black francis]

Isn't that implying she has both her legs and a penis?

[Mr. Brian]

Isn't that implying she has both her legs and a penis?

That's a good point. Maybe Kelley Stoltz can let him know.

[bunnybunny]

The caption under the accompanying photo of the band:

Echo and the Bunnymen played for a considerable number of empty seats at the Keswick.

[black francis]

And they're playing Pennsylvania twice because......?

[King Of Kings]

Time to pack it in

Saw the Alarm yesterday , Playing in a small venue to about 200 fans.

The sheer intensity, enthusiasm and energy generated was amazing.

Made me think if they can do it why can't the Bunnymen.

Mike Peters wanted to entertain and please and pulled out all the stops

Fabulous

[fat cherry]

the alarm were, are, and always will be shite. 68 guns my arse.

[Dave Smith]

Stupid Welsh cod Clash rockers with mullets.

[fat cherry]

well its not his fault he's welsh, and I once had a very brief flirtation with a mullet so I shouldn't be too harsh, but right on smiff. saw em once, supporting someone. crap.

[Mr. Brian]

And they're playing Pennsylvania twice because......?

maybe Ian wanted to make sure he got a chance to see the Liberty Bell.

[JackT]

maybe Ian wanted to make sure he got a chance to see the Liberty Bell.

Or the Railroad Museum in Strasburg.

[withahip]

Saw The Alarm - or the singer and his band - last year.
They put on an excellent show.
Afterward, meeting them, they were also some of the nicest people around.

And who doesn't like a good song about rain in the summer time?

[withahip]

The caption under the accompanying photo of the band:

Echo and the Bunnymen played for a considerable number of empty seats at the Keswick.

Maybe they need to go Bunnymen Mach II

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTPQVOWCiU[/youtube]