Click Click: Keane @ DAR Constitution Hall
In the case of some bands, escaping the inevitable comparison to another, more popular outfit is borderline impossible. But with thousands of musicians out there trying to make a name for themselves, saying one is following and/or ripping off the other is rarely justified. Take Keane, for example. Yes, they're from the U.K., and sure, their frontman has a seemingly limitless supply of energy. Ok, so they also are heavy on the keys and played an intimate acoustic mini-set during their show on Tuesday night, but really, that's where the similarities to that other band (you know, rhymes with Schmoldsplay) end. Wait... founder Tim Rice-Oxley and Chris Martin met in 1997, when the latter invited the former to join his band? Too weird.
Despite what you've just read, the trio from England that recently played Constitution Hall is quite different than the quartet that rocked the Verizon Center twice in 2008, and the reason why can be summed up in one word: humility. Lead singer Tom Chaplin didn't wed Margot Tenenbaum, his band hasn't sold out every arena and pavilion from Portland to Miami and, despite incredible success abroad, they really haven't hit it big yet in the United States.
Which is why Rice-Oxley, Chaplin and drummer Richard Hughes are doing their damndest to change that. Less than 48 hours ago, Keane came through Washington, D.C. and conquered a not-quite-sold-out crowd in impressive fashion. The band soared through a set that included songs from all three of their releases, including "Somewhere Only We Know" (undoubtedly their most successful single), the title track from 2008's Perfect Symmetry and a fantastic performance that saw Chaplin belt out "Playing Along" accompanied by nothing but an acoustic guitar (which, if you're familiar with the band, was quite unexpected).
Keane doesn't have the Grammy wins, the SPIN cover shoots or the celebrity wives, and that seems to suit them just fine. While putting on a flawless performance in front of a few thousand enthusiastic fans, the unabashedly giddy Chaplin continuously revealed how excited the band was to finally make it back to Washington. He and his mates appeared genuinely thrilled to be playing a venue "a bit bigger than the 9:30 Club" this time around, despite a number of visibly empty seats sprinkled throughout the mezzanine.
From the opening chords of "Lovers Are Losing" to the closing vocals of "Bedshaped," the band relished in the moment while it was theirs and their alone. Nobody can ever accuse them of stealing it, however, because with a catalog of beautifully-written tunes and an incredibly cohesive sound, they've absolutely earned it.