(Photo by Yafi Yair)
Going into last night’s Bleachers show at the Culture Room, I wondered how a band with a sound as anthemic and arena-ready as theirs would jibe in a room as comparatively small as this one. I last saw the band—a fast-growing side project of frontman Jack Antonoff’s full-time gig in the Top 40 hitmakers fun.—at the Coral Skies Festival in West Palm Beach last October, where it played to a swelling crowd of hundreds on the main stage of the amphitheater, shaking its rafters and exploiting every element of the venue’s superlative sound.
So it was no surprise that last night’s concert, which was packed by hungry fans from stage-huggers to wallflowers, felt somewhat constricted, a rock ‘n’ roll tempest in a teapot. There should have been twice as many people watching Bleachers in a room twice this size and in a venue with better sound. But if Antonoff’s mic didn’t always pick up his lyrics with crystal clarity, his legions of fans were more than happy to recite every word.
Yes, the cult of Bleachers was in full throng last night, and it was exciting to witness the charged connection between the performers and their audience. One advantage of the smaller venue is the intimacy with which Antonoff could engage with his fans: He possessed a televangelist’s charisma and ability to control a crowd, eliciting applause from its various segments with the infectious enthusiasm of a newly minted president just discovering his powers of persuasion. Toward the end of the set, Antonoff proclaimed, “Fort Lauderdale, you’re the f***in’ best,” and even though he probably says the same on every tour stop, it felt genuine.
And what’s true anytime you see Bleachers perform is that the songs on its debut LP “Strange Desire” sound more timeless live, because the band members’ hidden classic-rock grandiosity can more freely mingle with their signature, hook-filled indie-pop. Even on record, it feels like you’ve been listening to these songs for decades, and live, with the added flourishes of E Street Band-style saxophone solos and the occasional elaborate guitar solo, the tunes sound even more vintage.
Aside from that weird Yoko Ono track, the group played everything from “Strange Desire,” similar to the Coral Skies set list but with a few surprises: the ethereal “Take Me Away,” which provided a chill reprieve from the pogoing pop anthems; a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way,” which was nice, though nothing a dependable cover band couldn’t accomplish at a good local bar; an acoustic rendition of “Bullet,” from Antonoff’s old act Steel Train; and finally, Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” a classic that felt a bit too déjà vu-ish: A couple years ago, Frank Turner played his own spartan version of that song at the Culture Room, for the same reason: It’s a definitively Floridian rock tune.
“I Wanna Get Better” and “Rollercoaster” were, of course, satisfying highlights performed to perfection, but “You’re Still a Mystery” is becoming Bleachers’ trademark song, at least in a live setting. Last night’s version must have been 15 to 20 minutes long, and included a spirited faux-duel between Antonoff and saxman Evan Smith, who re-created Antonoff’s guitar licks, note for note, on his saxophone.
There aren’t many more bells and whistles one could extract from “Strange Desire,” an album with six or seven wonderful songs and a few bits of filler; it’s no surprise the set barely clocked in at an hour. With fun. currently on hold, I can’t wait to hear what’s next for Bleachers. After two solid years on the road, it’s high time for some new material—and a venue large enough to contain the sort of thunderous music only two drum kits can provide.
SET LIST
“Like a River Runs”
“Shadow”
“Wild Heart”
“Wake Me”
“Reckless Love”
“Take Me Away”
“Go Your Own Way” (Fleetwood Mac)
“Rollercoaster”
“You’re Still a Mystery”
ENCORE
“Bullet” (Steel Train)
“American Girl” (Tom Petty)
“Who I Want You to Love”
“I Wanna Get Better”
