Somehow The Former Site Of is The New Pornographers’ tenth record; it sure doesn’t feel that way but they have been quietly prolific since starting up at the turn of the century. This record is their second on new home Merge Records, and continues in the vein that is their strength- concise, multi-layered pop songs with honeyed vocals. As the tour in support of this record kicked off, unfortunately the stellar vocals of Neko Case were missing. I’ve come to terms with what looks like the permanent absence of Dan Bejar and of course no one missed their old drummer but Case brings a lot to the table in the live show. No shade on Jess Nolan, who provided keyboard colors and excellent vocal fills but it just felt a bit different.
The new material has a bit more bubbly synth, with “Pure Sticker Shock” as a good example of the burbling away under Newman’s assured vocals. “Votive” cuts a similar sonic swath, but gets a bit more bristly when Todd Fancey;s guitar comes barreling out of the gate about halfway through. “Calligraphy” harkened back a bit more to their classic sound, a steady loping beat framing Newman’s measured vocals. About halfway through, Newman felt the need to clarify that it was the first show the band has played in a year and a half, if you couldn’t tell. Someone shouted “Welcome to America!” and he immediately retorted “I live here! But thanks!”
Their classics weren’t ignored either, with “The Laws Have Changed” making an early visit and mid-era faves like “Brill Bruisers” and the plangent “Adventures In Solitude” getting a cheerful response from the crowd. Though Bejar as stated was not there, he was in spirit. “Champions of Red Wine” is a title that could be on his LinkedIn profile, and Newman closed the encore with a reading of Dan’s song “Testament To Youth In Verse.”
Will Sheff struck a solitude figure with his small keyboard tucked at the front of the stage, with the New Pornographers’ kit and backline behind him. Looking a bit like John Lennon, his amiable brand of folk-based songs. Starting out with the clever “Plus Ones” from his band Okkervill River (the conceit taking references from other songs but adding one to the number, like 9 miles high, or TVC16).
I never thought I’d hear a song centered around famous tracheotomies that segued into the Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” but that’s the kind of show Sheff delivered. He followed that with the debut of “Extra Mile,” prefacing that he hadn’t played it himself for quite some time so if you heard anything amiss, pretend you didn’t hear it. Sounded fine to me!
