DCist has been an REM fan since they were young and impressionable, so it’s almost impossible for us to be objective about Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills. Last night’s show at DAR Constitution Hall was a fun, lively and politically charged concert that hinged more on lead singer Michael Stipe’s personality then the music.
The band tore through a mix of old and new songs, sticking with their political activist theme for the evening. They opened with “Begin the Begin” from 1985’s Life’s Rich Pageant and it was a welcome reminder the band’s Athens, GA roots. Unfortunately, the inclusion of such stand out material only highlighted the inherent weaknesses in their new songs. DCist would like to forget that Stipe sang “I Want to be a DJ” last night. It wasn’t a good moment for anyone. While most of the new album is forgettable, Stipe’s slow and sweet rendition of “I Wanted to Be Wrong” off their latest release was a highlight.
The band didn’t forget their money maker songs either, and played “The One I Love” and “Losing My Religion” with a swift fervor that predictably received the most applause from the crowd.
The highlight of last night’s show happened late into the evening. During the band’s encore, Stipe reflected on his recent Vote for Change appearance with icon Bruce Springsteen. As Stipe waxed poetic about the joy of playing with Bruce, Mills quietly picked out the opening chords of “Born to Run”. After exchanging a quick look, Stipe and Mills launched into an impromptu version of the Springsteen classic, sending this fan and many in the audience into a bit of a frenzy. They did an admirable job with the opening verse before Stipe laughingly forgot the rest of the words.
Other highlights included the rarely played “Cuyahoga” (perhaps a shout out to the battle ground state of Ohio), “Country Feedback” and “These Days”. The chorus of the later song seemed to resonate with the crowd, and they chanted along with Stipe:
We are young despite the years
We are hope despite the times
(Image from the REM Website)
