Brand New at The House of Blues in Boston

Corey, the Barbarian, Sydzilla and I made a trek up to Boston to see Brand New at the House of Blues yesterday. We had to scope out the scene in preparation for the Holiday Bizarre with Manchester Orchestra at Lupo’s. I know. Two weeks between Brand New shows seems like a little much. But you can’t turn down a chance to see this band. Particularly since they’ve said they’re going to be touring less in the future. So we piled into the Bru-mobile and headed north.

First off, I’d like to thank the guy on Boylston Street who gave us directions. We would have been lost without you (see what I did there?). Secondly, thank goodness for free movement in crowds. Even though we tragically missed fellow Long Islanders Crime in Stereo and Glassjaw, the BRU Crew’s representatives were able to make it far enough into the pit to make the show the sweaty catharsis it should be. The set balanced content from all of their albums, even playing classics like “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad” and “Seventy Times Seven.” But I must say, the new songs are holding their own; “Vices” and “Bride” were two of the most intense songs of the evening. I can understand Jesse’s telling Kerrang! that “We were thinking a lot more about what we’d want to play when we were up onstage.” Take care applying your eyeliner before the Holiday Bizarre though; if there were dry eyes during the half-acoustic rendition of “Limousine,” I didn’t see them.

While it must be strange to scream out tragedies, both personal and universal, to moshing concert-goers every night, the boys from Levittown were as gracious and engaged as ever. And you’ll never see a more congenial mosh-pit. I’m bruised, but I feel like I made some friends, who I hope to see in the pit on December 3rd. I’ve seen this band three times this year and I’m still going back for more. Also, if you lost a black converse low-top (women’s size 8), Sydzilla has it.