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SXSW Review: R.E.M.
R.E.M. - at one time the biggest rock band in the world - entertained a filled-to-capacity crowd at Stubb’s during the Athens, Ga., band’s midnight SXSW slot that had fans young and old bopping and swaying to vocalist Michael Stipe’s every body contortion. The concert was recorded and presented live on National Public Radio in what appeared to be a SXSW first.
The songs were all up-tempo and inspired; they shot forth from the opening moments in rapid-fire succession. Old-school rock ‘n ‘roll veterans - vocalist Michael Stipe, bassist Mike Mills, guitarist Peter Buck - have figured out all of the tricks that make their trade work worldwide (pop song structure and sing-a-long vocal melodies). Buck’s black Rickenbacker guitar tone was much more crunchy and distorted than the clean tone guitar jangle that predominated his tone back in the day. Meanwhile bassist Mills and his angelic backing vocals and harmonies on the choruses made you realize just what an essential part of the trademark R.E.M. sound he has always been.
Among the old hits, “Drive” got an enthusiastic response from the audience. Likewise, “Fall On Me” - the 1980s song that proved R.E.M. was environmentally conscious before it was politically correct to be - unexpectedly appeared mid-way through the set and received what appeared to be the most spontaneous and enthusiastic applause of the entire evening.
By the end of the set, new songs and tunes from late in the band’s career dominated, “Electrolyte,” “Until the Day Is Done,” and “Bad Day” were all full-on rockers.
Stipe has transformed himself from the original Mumblecore vocalist into a clear-word-enunciating, political protest singer. During Stipe’s between song banter, he paused to relate that one new song was about former first lady Barbara Bush’s off-the-cuff response to Hurricane Katrina evacuees at the Houston Astrodome.
Later in the set Stipe said, “I don’t want to sound like,” and then he trailed off. (Could he have meant, “I don’t want to sound like Bono”?) Ultimately, his pause didn’t stop him from introducing various songs as the lyrically themed political protest songs that they were: one new song was dedicated to being sick of politicians “telling me what to be afraid of,” while another was dedicated to “a man who heard it and loved it…Heath Ledger.”
Despite their lyrically political slant, the band ultimately was the same old R.E.M. (minus original drummer Bill Berry) that fans from the past quarter of a century know and love.
Later in the set, Stipe intoned, “I know that Austin came out strong for Barack Obama. I want to salute you for that.”
Although there was a line wrapped around the building waiting to enter before the band began, by the end anyone with a wristband or badge was able to glide right in the door. Audience members didn’t make a mass exodus out of the venue during their hour-and-a-half set, but they did trickle out of the door. The newfound room to move and breathe was welcome.
(Michael Stipe photo by Jay Janner/AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
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By Accuracy Patrol
March 13, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
“Bad Day” came out in 2003 (and was demo’d in 1986). “Supernatural Superserious” is the new single.
By John
March 13, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
Until the Day is Done might be one of R.E.M.’s best of all time. The critics they got for their work after Berry left is not fair. Even before Berry left, the band was strongly considering that sound and style (Up, Reveal, Around the Sun). Not fair to blame the loss of Berry on that. Besides, R.E.M., pioneered new sound (that’s what made the big, but still unknown, before 1987). That’s what makes this band so good. They are not afraid to try a different path. American music has become so boring and image-based the past 10 years. R.E.M. still gives American music hope and a chance.
By jt
March 13, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, American music has become so boring due to the lack of any direction except for how fast can we make a song that basically repeats the same words over and over without any purpose. At least REM has something to sing about and takes a position (whether its a position one believes in is another discussion). Thank Goodness they are back (but they really were never gone for those of us who are diehard fans from the beginning!).