Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at the Brixton Academy

It was incredibly cold at the Brixton Academy last night, but Black Rebel Motorcycle Club warmed it up with a vigorous concert.

Starting a little low-key, with the crowd reacting only timidly, the band soon ignited the atmosphere and played some of the most rampant songs of their repertoire.

Not halfway through the gig, the group had already played most of their big hits. Songs like Beat the Devil’s Tattoo, Whatever Happened to My Rock ‘n’ Roll and Berlin saw the audience become a united jumping mass, such was the enthusiasm.

After the opening boom, BRMC maintained their energy and intensity, slowing down only for the power ballads in which guitarist Peter Hayes and bassist Robert Been alternated solos (Mercy standing out in particular, with Been at the stage’s edge, kneeling down as if actually praying). Next, there was time for more crowd pleasers, including Teenage Disease and especially Six Barrel Shotgun, which saw everyone go wild with stadium-like chants and whistles denoting the boiling point of the show.

The whole gig was interspersed with tracks from the new album, Specter at the Feast, which Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are currently promoting, but the encore in particular was entirely focused on songs off the new record – wisely or not. Possibly due to the music being unfamiliar (with the LP only recently released), it seemed the old hits dominated the band’s new work.

Nonetheless, this did not change the fact that BRMC are a great band, and they give their best live. Elevated by the hypnotic, rich voice of Been in contrast with the scratchy voice of Hayes, alongside the skills of drummer Shapiro who never misses a beat, it is only a matter of time before the band scores again.  

Rita Vicinanza
Photos: Helen Parish

For further information and future events visit Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s website here.

Watch a live performance of Berlin here: