Placebo Return to Brooklyn and We Can Never Let Them Go
Placebo and Big Joanie Rock Brooklyn Steel
When I think about my youth, my wonderful yet angsty teenage years, I can’t help but to think how important a band Placebo was to me growing up. The band I first discovered, like many of their American fans, from their track “Every You and Every Me” when it premiered in the seduction thriller Cruel Intentions which starred Ryan Phillappe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
I was pretty instantly hooked, Brian Molko’s unique vocals and the band’s ethereal sound. I can think back to many nights roaming the streets of Manhattan and Placebo was the soundtrack of my life. I caught them once headlining NYC’s famed and now closed Roseland Ballroom in support of their album Meds and again on The Projekt Revolution Tour with Linkin Park and up on till now those were the last time I’ve seen the band live.
You could imagine the excitement when I got news that Placebo was rescheduling their tour dates and months that felt like years later now they finally made their way to Brooklyn’s coolest venue Brooklyn Steel for two nights sold out in the city. I, like a giddy school kid, was going to cover a lifelong favorite band.
I made my way into the venue to catch the opener Big Joanie, the band who comes from the U.K as well and self describes themselves as “Black Feminist Sistah Punk Band” took to the stage promptly at 8pm. They were the single opener on these shows and the crowd filed in eager to see what they were all about. The all female 4 piece is out in support of their latest album Back Home.
Their 30 minute set included songs from both Back Home as well as a few from their previous record Sistahs. Big Joanie rocked it through catchy tracks like “Happier Still” and “What Are You Waiting For”, they took time in between asking the American audience for help supporting Black women and acknowledging how important of a role Placebo had played in the LBGTQ community.
They most definitely made a huge impression on the NYC crowd earning a roar of applause as they ended their 8 song setlist. The show marked their second show ever in New York City with the first being the night before with show number 1. It most certainly won’t be there last.
The time was almost near for Placebo to take the stage, the first time in NYC in what I believe was over a decade. The band hits the stage at 9pm but about 10 minutes before vocalist Brian Molko appears on the screens lining the back of the stage to deliver a message to the audience. It’s a message asking fans to respect Placebo’s performance and to not use their cell phones to video or photograph the show but rather to be present and connect with the music.
A move many acts have done, Tool, A Perfect Circle and comedians to name a few, Molko and Bassist/Guitarist Stefan Olsdal made it a long way to bring new music to fans after a bit of a delay. Also with Covid taking away live music I think many bands want to connect with their fans and not look at the screens.
The band took the stage with a mostly respectful audience of their cell phone rule, opening the set with new songs “Forever Chemicals” and “Beautiful James” from their newest record Never Let Me Go which was released in March of 2022. Brian’s vocals sound as good as ever, their entire touring band is tight and the back up vocals and harmonies on these songs especially the new ones make the band sound huge!
It would appear both Molko and Olsdal are enjoying being on stage again after speaking of being burnt out on shows a few years ago. As a band they seem rejuvenated. Before the track “Happy Birthday in the Sky” Molko introduces the track for his brother that passed away in August of 2022 and simply states “I Love You Stuart”. I can relate because when I reviewed the album last year, the track reminded me of my sister who passed away in July of 2017.
The 22 song setlist features 11 songs from Never Let Me Go plus two covers, the famous Kate Bush cover of “Running Up That Hill” and “Shout” by Tears For Fears both of which are part of Placebo’s 3 song encore. Other notable fan favorites on the setlist are “The Bitter End”, “Song To Say Goodbye”, “Slave To The Wage”, “For What It’s Worth”, and “Too Many Friends”. The crowd didn’t seem to mind the absence of some of the bands earlier hit’s but with that said the band did put on a fantastic rock show.
Overall the show was everything I’ve been waiting for, a solid opener and new Placebo music with them back touring the states. If you get a chance to see this tour I highly suggest you don’t miss out! Check out the full setlist below!
