By Christopher David<\/p>\n
When it comes to rock n’ roll, simplicity is the key to a strong foundation. A lot can be done with straightforward melodies, simple arrangements, and a lot of punch, which is exactly what Black Rebel Motorcycle Club brought the House of Blues on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Taking a break from work on a new record and currently on a co-headlining tour with Death From Above 1979, BRMC\u2019s is a \u2018power trio\u2019 in the best sense of the world.\u00a0\u00a0 Guitarist\/bassist\/vocalist Peter Hayes, bassist\/guitarist\/vocalist Robert Been, and drummer Leah Shapiro delivered a career-spanning set with a few surprises, and seeing the band live is a reminder of just how much they can do with a strong sense of self-identity and some subtle shifts in style. Tunes like \u201cAin’t No Easy Way\u201d and “Beat the Devil\u2019s Tattoo” from 2005\u2019s Howl<\/em>, while starkly stripped on record compared to their previous work, integrated seamlessly with balls-to-the-wall rockers like \u201cSix Barrel Shotgun\u201d and \u201cConscience Killer.”<\/p>\n Some technical issues behind the scenes led to an impromptu but welcome acoustic rendition of \u201cSympathetic Noose,” another Howl<\/em> highlight, and if anything, the band\u2019s most recent record (2013\u2019s Specter at the Feast<\/em>) was under-represented given how recently the band was out supporting it. But the inclusion of just a couple of Specter<\/em> tracks spoke to how easily the band can pull from any part of its catalog and find cohesion; mid-set new tune \u201cHaunt\u201d was a perfect example, a slow-burning, plaintive melody around a building arrangement that delivered heavily on atmosphere. Been and Hayes are a duo to be reckoned with, trading off vocals with regularity, and Shapiro is one of rock\u2019s most unsung powerhouses, balancing the perfect amount of restraint on \u201cCold Wind\u201d before shaking the floor for 2008\u2019s \u201cBerlin,\u201d one of the band\u2019s strongest singles.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a tough few years for BRMC, having faced down deaths in the musical family as well as serious health issues, but as a unit, they\u2019ve clearly never been stronger. Whatever they deliver next, it likely won\u2019t have fans asking what happened to their rock n\u2019 roll\u2014BRMC delivered that to their Chicago fans in spades.<\/p>\n For more on Black Rebel Motorcycle Club including current tour, click here<\/a><\/p>\n