Placebo Bring 20 Years To Brixton

by | Oct 24, 2017

When Placebo appeared on the music scene some 21 years ago, their rise wasn’t overnight. But by the time they released the fifth single from their self-titled debut – Nancy Boy – they were peaking in the top five of the UK singles charts. Not bad for a group of unassuming lads led by the 5’6” tall androgynous frontman Brian Molko. They went on to have an instantly recognisable sound and were quickly noticed both by the general public and those in the industry, such David Bowie, who took them under his wing and even contributed vocals to 1999 single Without You I’m Nothing.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

20 years on and the group put out retrospective compilation album A Place For Us To Dream, re-discovering their early hits and re-incorporating some into a career-spanning 20 Years Of Placebo tour, which kicked off last year and continued on to two shows at favourite venue – London’s Brixton Academy.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

Drummer Matt Lunn alongside a three-strong supporting band of Bill Lloyd on additional keys and bass, Nick Gavrilovic on guitars and keys and Angela Chan taking up additional keyboards as well as violin, take to the stage and kick off the stomping rhythm of hit 1998 single Pure Morning, the larger than life character of bassist Stefan Olsdal bounding out to huge cheers ahead of frontman Brian Molko who makes less of a show.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

Seventh studio album Loud Like Love’s title track is up next, the stage shifting in hue from bright whites to muted reds and greens, all the while a massive backdrop screen stretching the full length and height of the Brixton Academy stage shifting imagery between video excerpts and filtered live camera feeds of the band.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

“Well look at all the people here tonight!” Molko says to the crowd, addressing his audience for the first and only time of the night. “Two weeks ago I completely lost my voice” he continues, going on to tell of trips to doctors and speech therapists and how he was convinced his voice would be better for the band’s dual Brixton Academy shows, the group having cancelled shows in Plymouth and Swindon ahead of tonight. “I’ve not fully recovered yet so I want to thank you in advance for your patience” he asks of his audience before going on to champion his loud band.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

Soulmates, a re-cut version of fourth album Sleeping With Ghosts’ title track, allows the energy to flow across the Brixton Academy without attempting a song that stretches Molko’s vocal range ahead of more from the record by way of mid-tempo single Special Needs.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

Olsdal hands bass duties over to Lloyd next, taking up position behind a keyboard for 2013 single Too Many Friends, the 44-year-old frontman’s vocals following a simple monotone chant rather than the song’s original tune, his vocal weakness making itself apparent.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

Twenty Years, from compilation record Once More With Feeling, continue the downbeat, keyboard-led portion of the show before Olsdal swaps out his keyboard for a guitar to take on lead duties for I Know from the group’s self-titled debut, delivered very flatly by Molko’s inability to reach the track’s signature high notes.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

Battle For The Sun cut Devil In The Details allows Molko to continue to chant along as does Loud Like Love tune Exit Wounds, the frontman shifting octaves from the song’s stinging chorus deflating it’s punch, the crowd in the stalls still swaying along merrily while those in the circle sink back in their seats. Keys and a light rhythm open Sleeping With Ghosts cut Protect Me From What I Want, Molko’s range tonight suiting the song, it’s haunting melody ringing out across the hallowed hall of the Brixton Academy.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

A subdued outing of 1999 single Without You I’m Nothing sees video footage of Placebo advocate and mentor David Bowie’s time in the studio with the (then) boys appear on the huge backdrop, the huge loss of Brixton’s very own Starman still raw, particularly with those he touched so significantly, the group opting not to play Bowie’s vocal contribution of the single version of the song.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

For What It’s Worth gets off to a stuttered start, but it’s faster pace ups the mood of the Brixton crowd before Meds single Song To Say Goodbye and Sleeping With Ghosts hit The Bitter End close out the main set.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

When Molko et al. return, they run through massive 1996 single Nancy Boy, a song that departed their set for many years before being re-integrated for their 20th anniversary shows over the past year. And while I may have got a massive bear hug from the guy next to me for singing out every word to the early hit, Molko’s missing usual high notes impact this song for me more than most. Meds single Infra-red closes out the night, the band choosing to forgo their usual second encore of their renowned rendition of Kate Bush hit Running Up That Hill.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

I don’t know if it was from experiencing my first Placebo show from a seated section with only a handful of gig-goers on their feet, the trio of lads I was sat next to mostly out of it between taking snorts of unknown white powdered substances or the subdued nature of the show due to Brian Molko’s limited vocal range tonight that left a bitter taste in my mouth. Indeed, on my wander to the tube I overheard a number of people speaking of the Placebo frontman’s vocals as being integral to their sound, with many songs losing their punch tonight.

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

Stefan Olsdal of Placebo
Stefan Olsdal of Placebo

If tonight had been my first Placebo show, I might have been deterred from returning. But it wasn’t and we know why tonight was as disappointing as it was. Get well soon Brian; we’re all looking forward to hearing those killer vocals at the next show!

Placebo @ Brixton Academy

Live review and photos of Placebo @ Brixton Academy by Kalpesh Patel on 23rd October 2017.

Kalpesh has more music photography up on his flickr stream here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingforkate

 

Live: Foo Fighters @ Glastonbury Festival 2017

Lizzie Esau @ The Grace (Kalpesh Patel

Lizzie Esau Unleashes Explosive New Single ‘Bugs’ — A Dark, Defiant Step Forward From A Rockshot Favourite

Rockshot Magazine favourite Lizzie Esau continues her rapid ascent through the UK’s alt-rock landscape with the release of her most accomplished single to date, Bugs. A darkly euphoric track filled with emotional grit and lyrical nuance, Bugs sees the 25-year-old Newcastle native confront the chaos of creative self-doubt with ferocity — and catharsis.

EMMMA (João Viegas)

EMMMA Finds Power In Heartache With Stirring New Single ‘Wednesday’s Child’

EMMMA is no stranger to vulnerability — but with her latest single, Wednesday’s Child, the rising UK-based alt-pop artist turns raw emotion into a seismic act of self-empowerment. Released as the next step toward her second EP, the track is a defining moment in her artistic evolution: darker, bolder, and more emotionally fearless than anything she’s released before.

Jon Allen (Michael Walker)

Jon Allen Unearths Gritty Past Of 18th Century London With Immersive New Album ‘Seven Dials’

British singer-songwriter Jon Allen invites listeners into the fog-shrouded streets and shadowy corners of 18th century London with his latest album, Seven Dials. Known for his earthy blend of folk, blues, and Americana, Allen trades modern-day themes for a haunting historical portrait that’s as cinematic as it is emotionally raw.

Josh Groban (Sami Drasin)

Josh Groban Shines Bright With New Career-Spanning Album ‘Gems’

Josh Groban is entering a new era of reflection and celebration with the release of Gems, a deeply personal,...
Sophie Grey (Maximilian Stafford)

Sophie Grey Is Not Waiting Anymore — She’s Putting You ‘On Hold’

Rising electro-pop artist Sophie Grey. is back with a brooding new single, On Hold, and it’s everything we’ve come to expect from the multi-talented producer, performer, and provocateur — shimmering synths, bold visuals, and an anthem for the digitally disenchanted. Out now with an equally cinematic music video, On Hold is a hypnotic blend of retro-futurism and raw emotion, delivered with Grey’s signature flair and fiercely independent spirit.

Lorde (Thistle Brown)

Lorde’s Rebirth: ‘Virgin’ Ushers In A Raw, Unfiltered New Era

In an industry that thrives on reinvention, Lorde has always moved to the beat of her own creation. Now, four years after the sun-soaked introspection of Solar Power, the enigmatic New Zealander has announced her fourth studio album, Virgin, due out on 27th June — a project that promises to be her most emotionally exposed and artistically unguarded work to date.

Blondshell @ MOTH Club (Kalpesh Patel)

Blondshell Faces The Fire With New Single And Sophomore LP ‘If You Asked For A Picture’

Alt-rock torchbearer Blondshell (aka Sabrina Teitelbaum) is preparing to light the fuse on her next era with the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album, If You Asked For A Picture, arriving this Friday, 2nd May via Partisan Records. Today, she offers one last taste before the full detonation with the release of her latest single, Event Of A Fire—a smoldering slow-burn that builds from embers to an emotional inferno.

Pistol Daisys (Matthew Pearson)

Pistol Daisys Return With Shimmering New Single ‘Calling Your Name’ — A Heartbreak Anthem For The Bold And Open-Minded

Scotland’s genre-blurring alt-pop outfit Pistol Daisys are back, and they’re diving deep into unexpected truths,...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing