Lovers Lane
In The Flesh

New Pornographers live!

| October 24, 2007

The New Pornographers
Metro, Chicago
Friday, October 19, 2007

new porn

The enthusiastic ovation that greeted the much-revered Canadian collective The New Pornographers was startling, even after taking into consideration this was the second of a sold-out, two-night run at Metro. The voluminous salutation rose even higher when head Pornographer A.C. Newman and silver-throated siren Neko Case seared into the bouyant “All Things That Go To Make Heaven And Earth.”

Unfortunately, otherworldly forces seemed to be conspiring against them, specifically Newman’s guitar. The obvious momentum that swelled during the opener and continued into the jubilant “Use It” kept getting derailed by an instrument that refused to stay in tune. While the rest of the band tried in earnest to keep things moving with witless stage banter, early indications weren’t looking good.

Pulling generously from their most recent, excellent Challengers record — as well as three preceeding albums — the unruly tide finally started to receed with Newman strapping on an acoustic guitar for sharp readings of “My Rights Vs. Yours,” “Mass Romantic,” and “Unguided.” From that point on, there was no looking back.

With the aforementioned offender (guitar) finally reeled in and the band’s musical feet planted firmly beneath them, the seven-piece tore off on a run of would-have-been-hits-on-AM-radio-in-the-’70s. Midtempo compositions like “Myriad Harbour,” “Adventures In Solitude,” and “The Spirit Of Giving” had their easy listening edges filed, leaving in its place proof of a road-hard band with plenty of chemistry to spare.

The evening culminated in a holy trinity encore of indie rock non-hits that included “Jackie, Dressed In Cobras,” “From Blown Speakers,” and an over-the–top “Letter From An Occupant.” As the band shuffled off Metro’s undersized stage never to return, a rabid audience pleaded for more. But it wasn’t to be. Considering the evening’s auspicious start, the Great White North’s version of a supergroup seemed more than happy to leave (very) well enough alone.

— Curt Baran

Category: Live Reviews, Weekly

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