Placebo - Are still around and even more intelligent!

****

A great way to end a tour!

Placebo **** have gone off the radar in the UK, well in the last couple of years. But this has not stopped them selling out concerts all over the United Kingdom and in Europe especially France and Germany. In these countries you can't really find a bigger band than Placebo and their is a lot of people from both these countries present at tonight's show, which is the last on the bands 'Loud like Love' tour. 

Opening with 'B3' off the EP of the same name, you realise it's going to be a good night at the Brixton Academy tonight like it already had been the night before because this is the second time the band will hit the London venue in two days. This song really showcased the band back on writing form even though the new material is a little more intellectual and Placebo were always a band that was interesting and re-invented the envelope when it comes to doing something new.

This song opens up with Synth Esq. tones that break into lyrics that take you back to older days for this band but this is new material and one of the songs that has shown that Placebo still can produce the old formula when they want to. This song also gets bigger and bigger as it goes on and launches the set into full life.

'For what it's Worth' that leads onto the title track of their new album 'Loud like Love' which is gradually picking up in pace on the live circuit. The screens behind the band showing great imagery connected with the songs that they are playing and illuminating the scene that Placebo want to put upon their audience, imagery has always been really important for this band and sometimes has held them back in some circles and brought them forward in others.

'Twenty Years' is almost like an atmospheric lullaby that just drifts by hauntingly, while the crowd go crazy like they all have cruel intentions when they break into the hit single 'Every You, Every Me' which is given a slight reprise from it's original incarnation.

"The Computer thinks I am Gay, I through that piece of junk away!" is bleated out by Brian as they break into the single off their new album 'Too many Friends' which has hints of older material and a very commercial track I can't quite remember the name to. This is probably one of the most chart and radio friendly tracks the band have ever done and hints at other bands like Snow Patrol and Coldplay a bit of a shock for some Placebo fans I think.

They is followed up by the happy clappy 'Scenes of the Crime' which is already a set filler but has a nice build up to it and really seems to be lead by Steve Forrest's drums. This shows he has made a great edition to the band and the piano on this track is also standout for me. 'Rob the Bank' is more frantic live song that fans have already taken a liking to and really fits into the set nicely as a song people can jump around to. 'A million little Pieces' is a grower which I like more and more each time I listen to it and other new song 'Purify' really get's going quickly and shows that their is some great new material that is also Punky and fast and Stefan is playing every note with ease sporting a designer beard aging with class.

The next part has a little bit of dip which you could have been filled with hits like 'Nancy Boy, 36 Degrees' or even 'Taste of Men' just a little too many new songs in todays set doesn't really care that they are good because people like a band to mix it up a little. Ok we do get a nice version of 'Meds' which is a nice edition to the set but by the time it get's to the big songs every one has been waiting some people have already left the building.

From the start of the hits segment that includes the catchy 'Special K' which sounds the same as when it was first released all though's years ago you instantly know why Placebo are as big as they are. This great song is topped up when the main set is ended with one of the bands best and most popular singles 'The Bitter End' which sounds as great as ever it has done before and live it is even more big and Punky and is a great song to jump up and down to.

They come back on to play their stripped down piano version of 'Teenage Angst' which is just beautiful and their even more stunning Kate Bush cover 'Running up that Hill' which feels like a special treat tonight for people that have not heard them do it live before and for special measures they add in a little 'Post Blue' for good measures. They end the set with the brilliant 'Infra-Red' that everyone in the crowd sings the heart out to and with frantic clash of guitars it's the end of the set and the tour.

Sometimes in the set Brian Molko's vocals were a little quiet and needed to be turned up in the mix but it didn't really matter to much in a set that is almost perfect for the band. The weak point is a little too many new songs and songs of the last few albums and not many old ones, I think if they mixed up the songs a little adding in a two or three more old ones then this would have been perfection for the band that has been going since 1994. If you like Placebo though this was an enjoyable evening so recommend you catching them when they tour next time.

Placebo - Setlist
-------------------
B3
For what it's Worth
Loud like Love
Twenty Years
Every You, Every Me
Too many Friends
Scene of the Crime
A million little Pieces
Speak in Tongues
Rob the Bank
Purify
Space Monkey
Blind 
Exit Wounds 
Meds 
Song to Say Goodbye 
Special K 
The Bitter End 
--------------------
Teenage Angst (Piano Version)
Running up that Hill
Post Blue 
Infra-red 

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour 

Check Out! the Video for 'Too many Friends' Below...