The New Pornographers
3rd March 2020
Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, New Zealand.
Review by Tim Gruar.
I read online that the latest The New Pornographers record, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights, was nowhere near as great as their previous works. Sure, I might be newcomer to this band but I really struggle to see how. I guess when a group as strong as this one mixes up such a heady stew of alt-pop with a Canadian twist, ideas and talent come flooding out – even your worst is still pretty damn good.
Some of the original songwriters have gone, especially the talented but moody Dan Bejar. But my gateway to this band was the music of Neko Case, who along with Carl ‘AC’ Newman is a founding member of this collective and is still going strong. Many of the songs on the new album, of which we heard plenty tonight, have her influence. There’s a borderline commercial element, that sways into the unknown, but refuses to stay there. Songs like tonight’s concert opener ‘Falling Down The Stairs Of Your Smile’ is undeniably infectious.
Tonight’s crew is a seven piece, artfully arranged into a tight reverse pyramid on the front of the stage, with all three female vocalists – Neko Case, Kathryn Calder (on keyboards) and Simi Stone (on violin) – at the front so they can take the lead with their harmonies on the choruses. Between the ladies Newman peeks out, behind is ‘the bassist introduced as ‘Anthony (standing in John Collins – who was ‘’off having a baby’’, according to Case); guitarist Todd Fancey and drummer Joe Seiders, who was elevated above them on a short riser. I particularly enjoyed watching Seiders playing, as he laid down counter rhythms and alternative cadences across each tune.
The whole band was a joy, actually, because their songs are always a sum of parts that somehow works as a fragmented collective. This is a very clever crew. Like Arcade Fire, Grisly Bear, Wilco and Vampire Weekend their songs reference a multitude of points from Garage meets Beach Boys (Mass Romantic) to Semi-choral melancholy (Champions of Red Wine). Both featured and were performed with tonight’s set. It’s hard to believe that Mass Romantic, which closes the gig is 20 years old.
Newman and co. don’t really speak to us until well into their show. Maybe they are not feeling it. Canadians are known for their politeness, but I think Wellingtonians are even worse. We sit quietly and clap like it’s a symphony orchestra we’re watching. We give them little to feed off. That’s partly the mixed age festival crowd. The older ones have no doubt come to see Neko Case, familiar with her solo career and alt-country collaborations with Laura Veirs and k.d. Laing.
They deliver a number of tunes from the new album before Newman stops the show to apologise to his 8 year old son, who’s on tour with him and his wife, because he’s about to sing the word ‘Fuck’ as part of the very smart and cynical ‘Higher Beams’. That gets a laugh and breaks the ice. Highlights come thick and fast. From the new disc we get the swelling singles ‘Colossus of Rhodes’, ‘The Surprise Knock’, ‘You’ll Need A Backseat Driver’. And from the back catalogue we’re treated to exciting versions of the dramatic double timer ‘Whiteout Conditions’, ‘The Bleeding Heart Show’ and ‘All The Showstoppers’.
Case takes over for a paranoid delivery of ‘Crash Years’ and the glorious ‘Adventures in Solitude’, which begins acoustically before building to its climatic finale of relief. She’s grown her red-orange mane long and frizzy, so it’s giving her a slightly manic look. Teamed up with some tights with leg bones painted on them she has a playful Halloween meets indie-girl presence.
Newman and Case have a laid-back chemistry on stage that shows they’ve been around together long enough to second guess each other and stay out of each other’s spotlight and stage presence to keep the audience’s attention just fine.
“This is the final show in our five-week tour,’’ Newman reveals, ‘’Normally, we just want to go home. But I like it here in Wellington. I’m not just saying that because I’m on your stage.’’ ‘’You’re welcome to stay’’, a punter shouts back. ‘’I can’t,’’ Newman replies. ‘’I went to Te Papa today and did the (immigration) test. I’m too old. Not rich enough. Wrong job!’’ ‘’Yeah,” Case pipes in, ‘’And they’ll stick a needle in your eye if you don’t leave! Just one, mind!’’ ‘’Spoilsport!’’ Finally, the banter kicks in and the whole scene loosens up… just in time to wrap up. Shame that.
The band complete and head off to ready themselves for the encore, returning to play the titles from beloved albums like Challengers and Brill Bruisers. They complete the night on a very deft version of Brit-pop-like number ‘The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism’.
All in all, a great night. I’m never sure if bands like this really suit the concert chamber environment of a place like The Michael Fowler Centre. Some of the vocals were lost, bouncing off the acoustic panels or dissolving into the fabric of the seats. This is a room designed to hold its own without the need for over-amplification so a typical rock band stack of Marshalls are likely to reflect harshly. Fortunately, the sound engineer realised this, three songs in, and toned it all down, save for the bass which was still over mixed at times. These are minor points though, and it didn’t spoil the evening. So, if you get the chance, go see The New Pornographers. Jimmy Swaggart once claimed that rock’n’roll was the new pornography. I wondered what he would have thought of this particular brand of ‘smut’?
Tonight, we all loved it
Were you there at the Michael Fowler Center for this great indie-rock gig? Or have you seen The New Pornographers perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile
- Use It
- You’ll Need a Backseat Driver
- Dancehall Domine
- Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
- The Surprise Knock
- The Bones of an Idol
- Whiteout Conditions
- Colossus of Rhodes
- The Laws Have Changed
- Higher Beams
- Testament to Youth in Verse
- Dreamlike and on the Rush
- Crash Years
- All the Old Showstoppers
- Adventures in Solitude
- Champions of Red Wine
- Play Money
- The Bleeding Heart Show
- Mass Romantic
- Challengers [encore]
- Brill Bruisers [encore]
- The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism [encore]
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