Live Concert Review – The Breeders, The Montana Boys - House of Blues – 6.4.08
By Patrick Leigh
Published: June 6, 2008
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The Breeders dropped in at the House of Blues last night (6.4.08) on their first trek since 20002. Although the group has been dormant for six years, that lone original member, Kim Deal has been quite busy. She’s been involved with her other, better known project, The Pixies, who have been busy with reunion shows, including gigs in 2005 at Summerfest and Lollapalooza. In April, The Breeders released their 4th studio album, ‘Mountian Battles,’ sending Kim and company back out on the road to support it. Since March, the band has been trekking along the States playing shows everywhere from SXSW and Coachella, to intimate clubs across the country.

 

Kim Deal and twin-sister Kelley, from nearby Dayton, Ohio, played what seemed to be a distant homecoming show of sorts to many family and friends, as well as a crowded first floor at the HOB. Rounding out the band were Jose Meledes on drums and percussion, Mando Lopez on bass guitar along with “Cheryl from Florida” as she was introduced, who played guitar, provided background vocals, and some keys as well. A playful mood is the way I’d describe the evening. Starting off with the stage curtains opening and the crowd finding Kelley standing there, solo, beer in hand, like a deer in the headlights, it seems Kim thought it would be funny to play a little joke on sis…ah, sibling rivalry. 

After 20 years of on again, off again playing, you would expect a band, certainly with as much experience as these members to play a little tighter than they did. Maybe it was the giddiness of the evening, but I wouldn’t say that the band was exactly “on.” Covering 23 songs in about 80 minutes, things got off to a slow start but picked up as they went along. “Bang On,” “Night of Joy” and “We’re Gonna Rise,” all from the latest release, ‘Mountain Battles’ were early favorites. Kim then took to the side of the stage and let Kelley have the spotlight for a cover of Guided By Voices, “Gloomtown” that was well received by those in attendance. A lot of stops and starts between songs and a lot of banter from the stage to the crowd and to family and friends upstairs at the House of Blues didn’t exactly help the flow of the show, but did add to the intimate, homecoming feel.

“Cannonball,” shot everyone back to 1993, followed by “I Just Want to Get Along,” and “Huffer.” After asking the audience if there were any German speakers and getting a very weak response, the band played “German Studies,” which as you may have guessed, was performed in German. Rounding out the set were “Overglazed” and “Sinister Foxx.”

Opening the show was a band from Grand Rapids, Michigan called The Montana Boys. The MB’s sound exactly like you’d think they would based on that name, combining everything from blues rock, alternative, modern-rock, and a dash of country all tossed into a blender. A 45 minute set entertained the house filled with what sounded like a lot of family friends for them as well. (Grand Rapids being about a 4 hours drive from downtown Cleveland)

 

Some good tunes coming from the stage all night, though it seemed to me and a few friends I spoke to at the show, that the venue didn’t suit these bands well, a smaller venue would have seemed a more logical choice, but who thinks logically these days?

The bar noise in House of Blues just seems to get worse and worse each time I go there. Perhaps it was my spot near the back, or maybe the crowd was losing interest in the show, and gaining interest in getting cooked on a Tuesday night, but it took a little bit away from the experience. Seems like the best place to hear a show at the HOB is down on the floor or from the seats upstairs.

 

 

 

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