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Playing to a sold out show cannot be easy when you know the crowd are not there to see you, but mewithoutYou seem to have overcome their stage fright by getting completely wasted. Singer Aaron Weiss leaps around like a monkey on narcotics whilst brandishing a scarf that he throws into the air with every hit of the bass drum. The performance style is certainly interesting to watch but to be honest the music leaves a lot to be desired. While, technically they are very tight and the variety of instruments Weiss continually pulls out of the bag (sleigh bells, accordion, maracas) are entertaining, there is little variation between songs and the vocalist’s talking as opposed to singing doesn’t sound quite right.
And so, it is somewhat of a relief when Brand New take to the stage. Unusually, they open their set with an acoustic version of ‘Jude Law and a Semester Abroad’, but the crowd are instantly hooked and sing along to every word. Lacey’s voice isn’t quite on form yet and it takes him a while to warm up, but when he gets it right, he gets it so right. The set follows an atypical order – divided into thirds, with each third covering one of their albums in a chronological order. This arrangement is interesting because it really shows the progression the band have made between their first album, ‘Your Favorite Weapon’, which is laden with teenage angst (indeed the band were only teens themselves when the album was released), and their latest offering, ‘The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me’, which has a much fuller, mature and more satisfying sound.
Chatting to guitarist Vinnie Accardi after the show, he admitted that they much preferred playing the new material, which may explain why they change many of the older tracks into acoustic versions. In these instances, it is mostly Lacey who plays them on his own, making the gig at some points feel a bit like the Jesse Lacey and Brand New show. But the rest of the band don’t seem to mind, and are as excited about their music as the crowd are.
Yet despite this division, all the music sounds brilliant. Although the new material packs a greater punch, listening to the three albums in a row is like growing up with the Long Island five-piece, as you can really hear how the band’s sound has evolved. It seems that things just keep getting better and better for Brand New, and their live performances provide a shining example of their talent.
