Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
–by Laura Tucker
The Delmar Loop was alive with activity last Thursday night and Broken Social Scene was performing at The Pageant. Arriving about twenty-five minutes before showtime, I found myself in the lot behind The Pageant looking for a spot and they were hard to come by.
As I made my way into the venue, I found only a marginal crowd for the opening act, Hannah Georgas, causing me to wonder why there was such limited availability outside. She and her guitarist took the stage at 8:00 to begin a night of some of the most soothing tunes youāll find outside of the Chill station. Both Georgas and the headliner Broken Social Scene, were incredibly laid-back performances.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
While introducing the first two numbers, Hannah gave us some insight into their inception. The first one, āEnemiesā was about firing someone, the second, āDonāt Goā about losing someone. Maybe thatās the root of her melodic sound.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
The two performers played guitar with a drum track in the background while they swayed back and forth like wind chimes on the breezy day. The audience couldnāt help but do the same. Singing softly in a tone thatās just above a whisper. Vocal layering fills in the gaps and creates a full-bodied sound. Her short, six-song set was a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
By 9:00 the venue was full. Not sold out, but very full. The stage was set for the the eight-piece band. Complete with six microphones and guitars, a drum kit, bongos and a pair of brass instruments to start. The Vox amp stack at the back of stage brought a vintage vibe to the arrangement. At 9:05, the band started filling in the spaces reserved for them. With that many artists to coordinate, youāre bound to run a few minutes behind. But just a few. And throughout the evening, showing their diverse talents, they moved around swapping instruments. Jill Harris, the only female member, came out a few songs in to lend a hand with vocals.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene is not new to the Indie genre. In fact, they are Indie rock pioneers founded by songwriter Kevin Drew and musician Brendan Canning have perfected their eclectic sound over the past two decades.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
The album You Forgot It In People just celebrated its 20th anniversary in April.Ā Other members include Andrew Whiteman, Charles Spearin, Justin Proof, Evan Crawley, James Shaw, Sam Goldberg and David French.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
The large ensemble played a two-hour set to a packed house of loyal fans and entertained them with music is that is like a long interlude that draws you in.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
As the evening progressed, so did the sound. The baroque pop style that they are known for was on full display with āAnthems For a Seventeen-Year-Old Girlā.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Hannah George came back out to help with this one. Itās a bit hard to explain but I get the baroque connection. Itās a sound that you just have to hear for yourself.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Hannah Georgas setlist:
Enemies
Donāt Go
Scratch
Beautiful View
Same Mistakes
Fake Happy
Broken Social Scene setlist:
KC Accidental
Stars and Sons
Almost Crimes
Looks Just Like the Sun
pacific Theme
Cause = Time
7/4 (Shoreline)
Fire Eye’d Boy
Out in the Fields (Kevin Drew song)
Stay Happy
Late Nineties bedroom Rock for the Missionaries
Shampoo Suicide
I’m Still Your Fag
Hug of Thunder
Lover’s Split
It’s All Gonna Break
Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl
Sweetest Kill
Major Label Debut
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Broken Social Scene at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Hannah Georgas at The Pageant in Saint Louis. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.