Broken Bells - 02/19/2010

On Friday morning Broken Bells broke the news of playing their very first live show that evening at the Fold In Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles. 150 of us we're lucky enough to score tickets to the intimate first performance of the anticipated collaboration of James Mercer (the Shins) and Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley). And boy, was it intimate. Their album isn't out for another week but of course most fans already knew the tracks they were playing. Even Mercer jokingly commented about it and with the audience nervously laughing he begun the next song by letting us know, "Ah, it's okay" and finally a smile!
Understandably they seemed a bit nervous for the first few songs, but towards the end they loosened up and realized the good time they (& the audience!) were having. Brian (Danger Mouse) stationed himself on the drums for most songs, but occasionally jumped over to the bass, guitar, synth AND keyboards. When Mercer happens to sing, you feel like you are the only person in the room.. uh, or that could just be me, ha. The backup vocals coming from the 4(!) other band members definitely intensified the lyrical performance. Members included Nate and Nik from Conor Oberst's Mystic Valley and Jonathan and Dan, former members of Hella. All six of them on stage sets the bar high for their live sound, memorably Citizen sticks out with its wide sound of guitars and keys. For an encore Brian and Mercer joined the stage by themselves to cover a beautiful song from the band, Neutral Milk Hotel. And for the closer, the whole band reunited to lead the crowd in a great rendition of Cinder and Smoke. For such a powerful and fulfilling first show there are only endless possibilities coming ahead for Broken Bells. Soon enough, we'll see the great potential the band as a whole has with their ability to fill a room of their deep and breathtaking sound.

Setlist:
The High Road
Vaporize
Your Head Is on Fire
The Ghost Inside
Sailing to Nowhere
Trap Doors
Citizen
October
Mongrel Heart
The Mall and the Misery
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Crimson & Clover