Words and photos by DCist contributor Rob Cannon. Additional reporting by Sarah Fell.
The New Pornographers have played in D.C. often throughout their fourteen-year existence, but it’s rare that their full lineup is present. Formed from established artists in the Vancouver music scene, the band has always been subject to the varying schedules of its members. In particular, Dan Bejar and Neko Case, who both have successful careers outside of their work with the New Pornographers — Case as a solo artist, and Bejar as the lead singer of Destroyer. But happily for fans, both are currently touring with the band, supporting the 2014 album Brill Bruisers. The tickets for last weekend’s highly-anticipated 9:30 Club shows had been sold out for months and were selling for almost three times face value leading up to the show.
Playing to an already-packed house, opening act The Pains of Being Pure at Heart warmed up the crowd with soulful synth rock during the Saturday performance. Their pleasant indie pop was well-matched with The New Pornographers’ sound.
The New Pornographers opened with the title track from Brill Bruisers. The set took a while to build, but by the time they got to “Fantasy Fools,” the crowd was locked in and engaged. AC Newman shook as he belted out his words. After an aside with guitarist Todd Fancey, Neko Case announced that she was going to sing a faster version of “Champions of Red Wine.” They played a propulsive set, with minimal stage banter between songs. Halfway through the setlist, the pace picked up dramatically with an unexpected transition from “Drug Deal of the Heart” into “The Laws Have Changed.”
The band took advantage of their complete roster to produce some striking arrangements for their power pop melodies. Case joined Kathryn Calder and Newman on “Adventures in Solitude” for an especially lovely rendition of the song’s sweeping chorus. Calder and Case switched off and shared vocals throughout the night and their voices blended together beautifully.
Dan Bejar was a welcome presence, if not also a little unfamiliar. Singing lead on songs like “War on the East Coast” and “Testament to a Youth in Verse,” both written by Bejar, his voice added a more pleading emotional quality in contrast to Newman’s smoother vocals. He tended to quietly come on stage for songs when he was needed and leave afterwards. In contrast, Neko Case was on stage for the whole show, singing along with Newman and Calder, playing the tambourine and providing much of the stage banter. Despite often being absent from the band’s touring performances, she seemed as much a part of the show as Newman.
Overall, the show was engaging and a fantastic opportunity to see the band in full force. As the performers went into the first encore and then the second, with the audience singing along with every “hey-la” in “Th Bleeding Heart Show,” it was clear that all the moving pieces were working together.
