Review: New Pornographers

Above: The New Pornographers, Monday night at Liberty Hall.

Two days after Paul McCartney thrilled an audience at the Sprint Center, the New Pornographers demonstrated that the brilliant legacy of the former member of the Beatles endures during their riveting set at Liberty Hall.  The 80-minute performance was a rousing recital of intelligent pop music, and by extension, the influence of McCartney.

The apotheosis of ambitious art-pop, the New Pornographers aren't single-minded Beatles devotees. They also update the classic work of the Beach Boys, the Shirelles and the Mamas & the Papas. Wilco is the only other contemporary act that has so masterfully consolidated the entirety of the pop-rock vocabulary.

The New Pornographers are often called a "Canadian rock supergroup," a characterization that must seem preposterous to people who aren't indie rock obsessives. Its failure to attain mass appeal, however, is not a reflection of the collective accomplishments of its members. Monday's lineup was nine strong -- they could have fielded a baseball team. Dan Bejar, however, would make for a most unreliable left fielder. He shuffled on and off Liberty Hall's stage seemingly at his own discretion. His loopy work on "Jackie, Dressed In Cobras" was imbued with a careless swagger.

The collective's best-known member is Neko Case. Her keening voice is one of the most valuable instruments in popular music. Case's lead vocals on the grand "Go Places" and the gorgeous "Challengers" made them evening's prettiest songs.

Less brassy but no less effective was Kathryn Calder. Her delicate duet with Carl Newman on "Adventures In Solitude" was lovely. When momentum occasionally flagged, as during "My Rights Versus Yours," the marvelous twin vocals of Calder and Case swiftly injected vitality into the proceedings.

John Collins' melodic bass propelled "Moves" and "Use It," songs that sounded as if they were ripped right out of McCartney's Wings-era catalog. Alternating between saxophone and cello, Ben Kalb added a Phil Spector-style wall-of-sound feel to the mix. Even so, the performance was anything but precise. When they weren't consuming bottles of beer, several members of the band couldn't stop smiling.

Like the majority of their audience, the New Pornographers endearingly project the sense that they're compulsive music geeks. "Myriad Harbour," "Sing Me Spanish Techno" and "Mass Romantic" were among the music-themed selections. The latter song, the title track of their 2000 debut album, was enthusiastically delivered as if it was brand new.

The "hey-la-hey-la" exit chorus of "The Bleeding Heart Show" will never achieve the universally beloved "na-na-na-na"s of "Hey Jude," but that didn't make it any less meaningful to Monday's inhibited but appreciative audience of about 900. If The New Pornographers are among McCartney's most gifted pupils, they earned a top grade at Liberty Hall.

OPENING ACTS: Two trios with vastly different approaches served as opening acts. Imaad Wasif led a band through a highly-enjoyable set of psychedelic blues and unbalanced folk-rock. While Wasif trafficked in well-worn sonic territory, The Dodos were intent on creating new sounds. Imaginative contributions from a vibraphonist added urgency to the Dodos' insistent pop.

NEW PORNOGRAPHER'S OFFICIAL SET LIST Sing Me Spanish Techno; Up In the Dark; Myriad Harbour; Crash Years; The Laws Have Changed; Jackie, Dressed In Cobras; Adventures In Solitude; Twin Cinema; Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk; Go Places; Jackie; My Rights Versus Yours; Moves; Your Hands (Together); Use It; Silver Jenny Dollar; Mass Romantic; Bleeding Heart Show; Challengers; Slow Descent Into Alcoholism; Testament To Youth In Verse.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[TK]

Nice review, Bill! And nice video! : )

The band did skip "Slow Descent into Alcoholism" from the encore, however...

[mistymountains]

Great show. Brought my 10 year old and he can't stop thanking me. Loved the energy and the music was excellent as always. When the Dodos brought out trombone we knew it was going to be great!

[joe]

Special mention should be given to the NP's drummer who suffered some sort of neck injury during the day. Clearly you could tell he was in great discomfort, yet he was a trooper and played out the show. Neko is a force unlike any other. What a treasure her voice is. I love Bejar's songs and presence. Strange guy, but his songs really stick.

[Kilby]

I saw opener Imaad Wasif open for Dead Meadow at The Riot Room a few months back and he was an awesome surprise and blew Dead Meadow off the stage. Check out the cool video for "Fangs" on YouTube or any of his cool live clips. This guy is the goods. Had he not opened this show, well, there still would have been Neko Case (deep sigh!) to enjoy.

[snake taker]

Bill you rule. Awesome review. I only knew a couple of songs last night. But there was a great vibe last night. Going to definitely check out heir albums. Suggestions?

[JO]

I'd start with Electric Version and Twin Cinema to begin with. Great stuff.

[Roy]

Great show. It's petty to wish certain individual members were showcased a bit more but with the talent in this band it's understandable. For more of the lovely and talented Kathryn Calder, check out her solo release,"Are you my Mother", and the riveting,"Slip Away". Gorgeous.

[wadkc]

I love the Porn's but was sooo tired that night, I didn't want to make the trek to Lawrence. Guess I should have sucked it up. Next time!

[pellboy]

Joe, thanks for drawing some attention to the underated Kurt Dahle. While I'm sure the injury must have affected his playing some that night, I think Dahle is a master and a very key ingredient to the band's overall sound. Despite excellence all-around on the Twin Cinema album, I often find myself just isolating on Dahle's drumming on that disc.

[joe]

Yep -- Dahle is a great drummer and I was looking forward to paying attention to his drumming. When I watch him drum, I can't help thinking I am seeing a newer version of Keith Moon. I knew immediately something was wrong because he just had no movement other than the essential arm motion to drum.

[Cynical Bastard]

Will there be any further content on this blog that fails to mention P.M.'s greatness?