Black Rebel Motorcycle Club December UK tour and the cherry tree
Some bands are overrated, others underrated, and a few are simply taken for granted. The reason is not quality related, they have simply been around for such a long time producing consistent songs and in such a steady way that they are seen as part of the musical landscape. More or less like a cherry tree in the street: no one is really surprised or annoyed by it, but everybody gets to eat its fruits and notice its existence when in season.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club belongs to the third category. In a career that spans 12 years, they never promised or were expected to save or revolutionize the rock, they were never the darlings or the next big thing, but they never went downhill either. Many things changed since they started, but the band’s universe remained strangely untouched by time, trends, fashion, and even former drummer Nick Jago’s ups and downs.
Being part of everyday’s scenario doesn’t mean they are unable to occasionally impress, however. The addition of Leah Shapiro, for instance, brought a nice feminine touch not only to drums and percussion but also to the testosterone levels within the band. Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, the first album post new formation and their latest, shows a group in their prime. It’s like a catalogue of what they are about, with one song after the other showcasing BRMC’s typical beats and vibe. They also learned a thing or two about gigging while playing an average 15 gigs a month, something the audience seems to recognize and repay in attendance and enthusiasm. It’s definitely fruit time in BRMC’s garden.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club UK tour dates: Portsmouth Pyramids Centre (Dec 02), Nottingham Rock City (Dec 03), Manchester Academy (Dec 05), Glasgow Academy (Dec 06), Birmingham Academy (Dec 07), Norwich UEA (Dec 09), Bristol Academy (Dec 10), London O2 Academy Brixton (Dec 11).