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Much like their name implies, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is
a band that is constantly on the move, looking for a place to park and show off
their style.
"Whatever Happened With My Rock ‘n’ Roll (punk song)" was
the fitting ending to the first set.
This set the stage and confirmed to the audience, that this black-clad
threesome must also wonder where they come from, how they got here, and where
are they going. With their
effortless cool, delta-blues, rock swagger this San Francisco threesome relies
on the Sounds Better Loud approach to music, since at times they need it
to hide their lack of smarts and originality. That being said, they often play sold-out shows, have a
large following, and their music, while heavy on mood and atmosphere but light
on substance, is never less than great.
 Selling out a concert on a rainy night in Portland, Oregon
may not be difficult. Make it a
decent-sized venue like The Wonder Ballroom in northeast Portland, Oregon on a
Sunday night in March, and that is a different story. Jumping on stage right at 9:30 PM with the final chords of
The Stooges' "Forgotten Boy" still ringing in the speakers, BRMC began their
24-song assault on the crowd. By
the second song "Mama Taught Me Better," with its fast and wild unifying theme,
they found their groove and made it felt among the masses. Using the first 13-song set to mostly
showcase their new album, Beat The Devil's Tattoo, they continued their genre-pilfering sound by weaving psychedelica,
groove, beats, and shoegaze. The
fifth song "Bad Blood" brought the crowd to the head-nodding, foot-stomping
feel, and the sixth song "Beat The Devil's Tattoo" was a dark trip to their
sexiest sound, which had much to do with new drummer Leah Shapiro, harmonizing
the last few lines. This proved
that besides the perfect drum-machine-like playing from the ex-Raveonette (QRO
album review), she adds a sense of femininity to a very masculine
sound. While song eight, "Loan",
started the shake, "Berlin" brought the rattle, and "Weapon" brought the roll,
they were at their sonic best during crowd favorite "Berlin". Before ending the first set wondering
what happened to their rock ‘n’ roll, they threw the audience for another genre
loop with song twelve, "Ain't No Easy Way". This harmonica-laden ditty reminded us that these guys are
true-blue American born and bred.
 The second set started acoustically and allowed the crowd,
who was ready to mosh (much to the dislike of the band), a chance to relax,
catch their breath, allow their pupils a rest from the strobe lights, and grab
another drink. The six songs that
followed served almost as an intermission. This period of down-tempo, almost trance-dance switch,
thanks to their obvious shoegaze influence and Peter Hayes and Robert Levon
Been's harmonizing ‘la-las,’ seemed like the time where BRMC were most at ease
and content with their sound. The
third and final set included their classic, "666 Conducer". This allowed the long-time fans to
stand out from the newer fans, as they sang along or swayed at the right
parts. Followed by the beautiful
"Stella Adore", the set ended almost unnoticed with the new one "Shadows
Keeper". If this song is their
idea of a single, they might want to keep it in the shadows.
 To the new listener they are a good band, and to the fans
they are still a good band. Most
know they'll never win a Grammy, sell-out stadiums, or hear them on Top 40
radio. Maybe that is their appeal:
their inability to be labeled, lack of vision and drive, but still sounding
vaguely familiar. They allow
people to feel encapsulated in their own dark, original coolness, knowing that
they are musically well grounded, while remembering past heroes and influences,
and feeling like it's ok to not move on.
Enlivened by hyperactive controlled chaos, strobe lights, and with a
non-existent stage-presence, these semi-immobile people in black are always
able to make the crowds love them, and Portland was no exception. Thank God for lovers of garage-rock,
blues, folk revival, shoegaze, post-punk revival, Americana, neo-psychedelica,
religiously inspired lyrics, Marlon Brando, and HD radio, since it allows a
place for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to live. Just remember to wear black and play it loud for optimal
sound.
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Now on Matador - and fully with the Ibold! - Sonic Youth are The Eternal. 
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