2008 Woodie Awards
Broken Social Scene pounces Bowdoin College
The eclectic to the erratic played
Dylan Martin
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment
The Canadian collective Broken Social Scene put on a fantastic and unique show this week in our backyard. While some bands might get lost in the number of members, (more than 10!) Broken Social Scene does it right with eclectic compositions and an amazing stage presence.
I didn't know much about the band on arrival. Very quickly, I saw why Bowdoin chose Broken Social Scene to play. The Farley Field House was packed. The band consisted of 10 or more members, with four guitarists at most, two percussionists and a four-piece horn section. While cofounder Kevin Drew appeared to be the lead vocalist, vocal duties would often switch on various degrees as the band played out their experimental, ambient jams, ranging from greatly danceable to the slow and droning. All of the members performed with high-energy, openly displaying their own idiosyncrasies and styles, which in turn, resonated with the ecstatic, youthful audience.
The musical collective was clearly a group of friends and family who enjoyed playing music and noticeably supported each other in their own musical endeavors. While most of the songs were collaborative efforts by the entire band, BSS played a handful of songs written by cofounders Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning in their solo efforts. Two of my favorites were "Fire'd Eye Boy" and Canning's "Hit the Wall", both exhibiting great texture walls of guitar and infectious melodies.
The opening band, Land of Talk, was a great combination of Blondie and early-90s light grunge, and two of the members performed in most of Broken Social Scene's lengthy two-hour set.
Though it was a late night at Bowdoin, the crowd was energetic and seemingly delighted by the band's presence.
There were only two student-related 'incidents.' One where a student crowd-surfed onto the stage while the band was performing, and one where another student started a verbal argument with Kevin Drew and eventually became violent.
Drew made a lighthearted jab to the audience saying, "I'd like to thank all your parents for making this concert possible," and the student took it offensively, he screamed obscenities at the band, even after Kevin went down and talked to him for 5 minutes. After the student almost punched a band member attempting to escort him, security came in and guided him to the exit.
I didn't know much about the band on arrival. Very quickly, I saw why Bowdoin chose Broken Social Scene to play. The Farley Field House was packed. The band consisted of 10 or more members, with four guitarists at most, two percussionists and a four-piece horn section. While cofounder Kevin Drew appeared to be the lead vocalist, vocal duties would often switch on various degrees as the band played out their experimental, ambient jams, ranging from greatly danceable to the slow and droning. All of the members performed with high-energy, openly displaying their own idiosyncrasies and styles, which in turn, resonated with the ecstatic, youthful audience.
The musical collective was clearly a group of friends and family who enjoyed playing music and noticeably supported each other in their own musical endeavors. While most of the songs were collaborative efforts by the entire band, BSS played a handful of songs written by cofounders Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning in their solo efforts. Two of my favorites were "Fire'd Eye Boy" and Canning's "Hit the Wall", both exhibiting great texture walls of guitar and infectious melodies.
The opening band, Land of Talk, was a great combination of Blondie and early-90s light grunge, and two of the members performed in most of Broken Social Scene's lengthy two-hour set.
Though it was a late night at Bowdoin, the crowd was energetic and seemingly delighted by the band's presence.
There were only two student-related 'incidents.' One where a student crowd-surfed onto the stage while the band was performing, and one where another student started a verbal argument with Kevin Drew and eventually became violent.
Drew made a lighthearted jab to the audience saying, "I'd like to thank all your parents for making this concert possible," and the student took it offensively, he screamed obscenities at the band, even after Kevin went down and talked to him for 5 minutes. After the student almost punched a band member attempting to escort him, security came in and guided him to the exit.
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