"Next We're Going To Play Another Song...
R.E.M.
Lakewood Amphitheatre
Atlanta
June 21, 2008
...and after that we'll play another, then another, and it's going to continue like that for quite some time," Michael Stipe quipped early into the main set of last night's show in Atlanta. Years ago, when the band first embarked on touring after a ten year hiatus from doing so, Michael Stipe took to carrying the lyrics on stage with him in case he forgot the words. Over ten years later, it's hard to believe you're watching the same guy, striding around the stage all suited up, and confidently mixing up commentary on U.S. politics and social issues in between numbers.
Before last night, I'd never managed to catch an R.E.M. show before, having missed them not once, but twice, when they've visited Melbourne. I was seated amongst some people who'd made the trip from Athens (about an hour and a half by car) especially for the show, and the woman in front of me was happily recounting how the band would play in a bar she worked in during the early '80s during her days as a University of Georgia (UGA) student in Athens. It also turned out that the guy next to me, who'd come over from Florida (several hours drive) with his wife for the show, had been given his tickets by one of the guys up on stage who was playing second guitar for the band. Over forty-five years ago, the two were little kids growing up next door to one another in California, and had always kept in touch. It made me realise that these guys certainly haven't forgotten where they come from, with Michael Stipe frequently referring to the "home-town audience" and speaking so fondly of Georgia. And if you ever visit Athens, the home of UGA and its Georgia Bulldogs football team, R.E.M.'s likeness to royalty is impossible to escape.
You don't have to own buckets of R.E.M. records to find that you can recognise their songs and that you actually know a lot more of the material than you realise. Last night's generous two-hour set was stuffed full of both old and new stuff. And it's easy to see why everyone has lavished so much praise on their most recent long-player Accelerate, purporting it to be their best work since drummer Bill Berry left a few years ago. Hence, punchy new numbers like "Living Well Is The Best Revenge", "Man-Sized Wreath" and "Supernatural Superserious", went down really well with the huge crowd. Predictably though, the biggest whooping was saved for the band's older material, such as "Fall On Me", "Orange Crush" with Michael Stipe enhancing the chorus with the aid of a megaphone, and the nasty "This One Goes Out To The One I Love".
Nevertheless, the highlights of the show were some of the gentler tunes, particularly "Electrolite", which Stipe explained was written years ago while he was living in Los Angeles with his best friend. He asked the crowd to hold up their mobiles, lighters, or whatever they had on them that could give off light, to try and simulate the view of the Los Angeles skyline at night. Looking around during the chorus, with everyone's arms raised, holding up their phones, it really did look like LA at night. Several other favourites were also saved for the encore, including "Losing My Religion" and "Nightswimming". Another standout was "Let Me In", which on record, is full of fuzzy electric guitars and Michael Stipe's voice sounds kind of muffled and distant. Last night though, accompanied only by keyboard and a bunch of acoustic guitars, it was made much more beautiful. Although the crowd couldn't really make it out from ground level, the emotion on Stipe's face was clearly visible thanks to the two big screens on either side of the stage.
Last night's show was one of those where you go along knowing that you like the band you're going to see. But after the show, your respect for them and your appreciation of their music becomes considerably deeper.
Lakewood Amphitheatre
Atlanta
June 21, 2008
...and after that we'll play another, then another, and it's going to continue like that for quite some time," Michael Stipe quipped early into the main set of last night's show in Atlanta. Years ago, when the band first embarked on touring after a ten year hiatus from doing so, Michael Stipe took to carrying the lyrics on stage with him in case he forgot the words. Over ten years later, it's hard to believe you're watching the same guy, striding around the stage all suited up, and confidently mixing up commentary on U.S. politics and social issues in between numbers.
Before last night, I'd never managed to catch an R.E.M. show before, having missed them not once, but twice, when they've visited Melbourne. I was seated amongst some people who'd made the trip from Athens (about an hour and a half by car) especially for the show, and the woman in front of me was happily recounting how the band would play in a bar she worked in during the early '80s during her days as a University of Georgia (UGA) student in Athens. It also turned out that the guy next to me, who'd come over from Florida (several hours drive) with his wife for the show, had been given his tickets by one of the guys up on stage who was playing second guitar for the band. Over forty-five years ago, the two were little kids growing up next door to one another in California, and had always kept in touch. It made me realise that these guys certainly haven't forgotten where they come from, with Michael Stipe frequently referring to the "home-town audience" and speaking so fondly of Georgia. And if you ever visit Athens, the home of UGA and its Georgia Bulldogs football team, R.E.M.'s likeness to royalty is impossible to escape.
You don't have to own buckets of R.E.M. records to find that you can recognise their songs and that you actually know a lot more of the material than you realise. Last night's generous two-hour set was stuffed full of both old and new stuff. And it's easy to see why everyone has lavished so much praise on their most recent long-player Accelerate, purporting it to be their best work since drummer Bill Berry left a few years ago. Hence, punchy new numbers like "Living Well Is The Best Revenge", "Man-Sized Wreath" and "Supernatural Superserious", went down really well with the huge crowd. Predictably though, the biggest whooping was saved for the band's older material, such as "Fall On Me", "Orange Crush" with Michael Stipe enhancing the chorus with the aid of a megaphone, and the nasty "This One Goes Out To The One I Love".
Nevertheless, the highlights of the show were some of the gentler tunes, particularly "Electrolite", which Stipe explained was written years ago while he was living in Los Angeles with his best friend. He asked the crowd to hold up their mobiles, lighters, or whatever they had on them that could give off light, to try and simulate the view of the Los Angeles skyline at night. Looking around during the chorus, with everyone's arms raised, holding up their phones, it really did look like LA at night. Several other favourites were also saved for the encore, including "Losing My Religion" and "Nightswimming". Another standout was "Let Me In", which on record, is full of fuzzy electric guitars and Michael Stipe's voice sounds kind of muffled and distant. Last night though, accompanied only by keyboard and a bunch of acoustic guitars, it was made much more beautiful. Although the crowd couldn't really make it out from ground level, the emotion on Stipe's face was clearly visible thanks to the two big screens on either side of the stage.
Last night's show was one of those where you go along knowing that you like the band you're going to see. But after the show, your respect for them and your appreciation of their music becomes considerably deeper.
posted by yossarian | 3:25 AM
5 Comments:
Wow! They would've been fantastic to see! I'm getting tingles just thinking about the start of "Losing My Religion" live... It looks like you've again been able to get some great seats from all the photos! The number of classics they've got just keep going and going. I'll have to revisit their latest as I haven't given it a real go yet. Really good write-up yossarian!
Wow, yossarian! If you don't do this for a living (write reviews) you ought to!
I happened upon your post when my search for R.E.M. came back with your blog. I have totally been a fan of theirs for years, but your comments and review just made them all the more important to me! WTG!
FlorencePS
jonno - you're absolutely right about the start of Losing My Religion, it was something else. the photos are the best ones i could get largely because everyone was standing, even in the seated area, and being short, many of my photos are more of people's noggins than the band. and definitely give Accelerate a go - it's well worth it! will look forward to hearing what you think :-)
florence - thanks for the generous comments! sadly no, i don't do this for a living, but i do use it as a diversion from what i actually do for a living! i've been a fan of theirs for a long time too, but i only realised after seeing them live that there's still a lot more for me to discover. am so glad that as such a big fan, you appreciated my spin on the show. thanks again :-)
I cant imagine what it would of been like to be in the presence of such a lyrical genius. I havent got the new album yet but based on your review i definitely will. REM was one of my first musical loves. Thanks for describing it so well!
Yossarian, I haven't had a chance to check out your blog in a while but everytime I come across it you have some cool new review! Wow, REM would have put on a spectacular show by the sound of your review and I think you captured the feeling of playing for a home town. Even though we saw them with Kaz a few years back it feels like it was only a couple of weeks ago! Thanks for bringing back the memory!
Hope you're well!
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