Broken Social Scene Brings New Album to Chicago - Spinner

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Although it's been about 5 months since Broken Social Scene released their new album, 'Forgiveness Rock Record,' you wouldn't have been capable to judge it from the packed crowd at The Riviera Theater in Michigan on Saturday night. The band seemed but as mad to be there as their fans did. "We've spent a lot of metre in this town," frontman Kevin Drew announced as the multitude of band members took their places on-stage around 9PM.

They launched into 'World Sick,' the low one off their new album, without much hesitation. Hiding under ghostly blue lights, the chiming chords rung out and fans nodded along enthusiastically. Segueing directly into 'KC Accidental,' a true crowd leaser from2002's critical breakthrough, 'You Forgot It In People,' Drew led therest of the ring from his rod in the back behind several keyboards.During a part in between songs, the crew got a bit rowdy and yelledout suggestions. "We appreciate your input, but we're just gettingstarted," Brendan Canning said to silence the crowd. Canning and the restof the band didn't disappoint, ripping through older favorites like '7/4(Shoreline)' and 'Fire-Eyed Boy,' as good as newer songs like 'TexicoBitches' and 'All To All' - the latter of which had Lisa Lobsingerroaming the stage barefoot as she captivated fans with her beguilingvocals. Jubilant cheers and applause rang out several songs laterfor 'You Forgot It In People' favorite 'Stars and Sons,' as AndrewWhiteman and Drew led the crew in a clap-along. Their set reached itsmost contemplative moment when Drew brought out Metric guitarist Jimmy Shaw for the ballad 'Sweetest Kill,' announcing that it was a song thathe and Jimmy had written together in Mexico and brought back to showthe rest of the band. Towards the final half of Broken SocialScene's set, all the band members exited the stage, leaving Drew behindon the keyboard. He began to encounter the opening piano chords to 'Lover'sSpit' and the crowd cheered. "Sing it with me," Drew said, and fanseagerly complied, their voice resounding throughout the theater. "Wehave twenty minutes left to play, so we're only passing to bring it out,"Drew said, explaining the deficiency of their usual encore. The one-two punchof 'Meet Me In The Cellar' and 'Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A BetterHalf)' closed out their epic two-hour long set, further underscoringBroken Social Scene's love of playing and giving support to theirdedicated fans.