Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

dharma69

I think there are a few fans of this band in here....right ?

Recently I caught Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (again) as they're currently on the road with Stone Temple Pilots. Ten years in the making, BRMC's a band that's well overdue for being recognized, as they are probably one of the best bands today in a pool of their peers.

Now I had the pleasure of catching up with BRMC's primary bass player, Robert Levon Been, for a chat after their Jones Beach show in NY; generally low key guys, by nature, you never know how low key until you're hanging out in a parking lot.

Conversations w/ BRMC's Robert Levon Been

LukinFan

I saw these guys open for KOL last year and maybe it was because I was so excited and wanting the KOL to come on stage, but I didn't like them at all. But I have seen a ton of people on here that likes them, but they just weren't for me

ariel

I'm not enamored, but I keep hearing so much about them that I'm still listening. I wish they were at vfest...I'd rather go see them with a bunch of bands I know for sure I like.

fuck

Amazing band, I'm a big fan. Howl is an incredible album.

jimed14

there are several threads on here for these guys ... could have used the search.

that said, they are indeed awesome .... 2 shows coming up in SF ... one acoustic, one electric ... I choose the latter.

catefrances

i was just on an all day BRMC bender. from the first disc to the american x baby81 sessions. they seriously need to get back down here. ive not seen them in ages.

Strangest Tribe

BRMC is a great live act... I also saw them open for KOL and they were decent but catch them headlining sometime and they really knock it out.

I saw them at the Pageant in St Louis earlier this spring and they put on a great show and almost 3 hours with a few new songs.

pjoasisrule

Best band out there right now. They blow me away everytime I see them and they are the best live band for a reasonable price. Every album they put out has been great and Baby 81 is one of my favorite albums ever.

dharma69

jimed14 wrote:

there are several threads on here for these guys ... could have used the search.

that said, they are indeed awesome .... 2 shows coming up in SF ... one acoustic, one electric ... I choose the latter.

Why would I want to search?

Obviously you missed the point of the thread which wasn't to say "Oooh BRMC is a great band that you should listen. Anybody ever heard of them?". It was to share an experience. That's what the link is for.

That said, enjoy the electric.

SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr

Just got introduced to these guys in the fall when they opened for KOL. They rock. I've only heard the last two albums... but I'm a definite fan. They have some great driving beats and rhythms.

dharma69

SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr wrote:

Just got introduced to these guys in the fall when they opened for KOL. They rock. I've only heard the last two albums... but I'm a definite fan. They have some great driving beats and rhythms.

They have a headlining show at the House of Blues in San Diego on Sept 14th. You should make the show, if you can. They're a whole other animal when the stage is all theirs. Actually, maybe the same animal...just about 2 hours + of it.

Igottago

Their first album was quite good, second one sucked hard, and then the third one was pretty decent. A mediocre to decent band I would say. They have the following and acclaim they deserve.

edgarcamp

I'm into BRMC, and I get to see them tomorrow!

lalalalaaaaaaaa

I kinda lost interest after seeing them at Voodoo Fest, but they were good performers, and they do what they do very well. I'm not much into the framework that they stick to, but they're definitely a solid band.

petrocs

Each album seems to get better and better...I love them

pjoasisrule

Anybody have any idea if they are gonna get into the studio again soon? They have done so much touring in the last couple years......why not work on a new record now?

dharma69

They're still on the road (and have been for what seems like 3 years now) and bang out tunes as they go along. They've been playing at least 2 of their new songs in shows of late.

Then there's always the issue of money. I bet (hope) they'll have a new album by spring.

petrocs

I friggin love BRMC..I've seen them every tour and I own every album...one of my top 10 favs

LedZepFan

dharma69 wrote:

They're still on the road (and have been for what seems like 3 years now) and bang out tunes as they go along. They've been playing at least 2 of their new songs in shows of late.

Then there's always the issue of money. I bet (hope) they'll have a new album by spring.

any videos of these new songs floating around?
how do they sound?

dharma69

LedZepFan wrote:

any videos of these new songs floating around?
how do they sound?

I've heard The Absent (which I thought fairly stunning):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3jQt9mIVbo&feature=related

I believe that they've only performed the new songs acoustically; whether they stay that way or go electric, who knows. You can find some video of the songs, The Toll, The Knife on this YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm35TYI67hI&feature=related

Oh and River Styx, which I first saw at The Wiltern in LA in March...nothing acoustic about this one. Nice and noisy and even though 15 seconds into the song the first thing out of my mouth to my friend was "Are they playing Personal Jesus?", I like this one a lot. No reason why this one shouldn't make their next album. It sounds great live.

pjoasisrule

dharma69 wrote:

I've heard The Absent (which I thought fairly stunning):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3jQt9mIVbo&feature=related

I believe that they've only performed the new songs acoustically; whether they stay that way or go electric, who knows. You can find some video of the songs, The Toll, The Knife on this YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm35TYI67hI&feature=related

Oh and River Styx, which I first saw at The Wiltern in LA in March...nothing acoustic about this one. Nice and noisy and even though 15 seconds into the song the first thing out of my mouth to my friend was "Are they playing Personal Jesus?", I like this one a lot. No reason why this one shouldn't make their next album. It sounds great live.

I have heard both of the new ones that last time I saw them. They should release a DVD......they are one of the best bands around live and definitely the best for the money (most I have paid is 25). I have seen them 3 times just in the last year and would have gone a couple more times if I didnt have anything else going on. By the way, are they going to get a permanent replacement on the drums? I am not digging the fact that there is a chick in the band right now.

dharma69

pjoasisrule wrote:

I have heard both of the new ones that last time I saw them. They should release a DVD......they are one of the best bands around live and definitely the best for the money (most I have paid is 25). I have seen them 3 times just in the last year and would have gone a couple more times if I didnt have anything else going on. By the way, are they going to get a permanent replacement on the drums? I am not digging the fact that there is a chick in the band right now.

At their last US show they said they were trying to convince Leah to stay...she'd learned some 26 new songs since July and is as steady as they come.

Nick, on the other hand, has said that he hopes to come back to the band....the side project that he was working with broke up.

I know it's a little odd but I dig Leah on the drums. And, in truth, BRMC's drummer has always been a bit of a shadowed roll; if you'd ask most of their fans BRMC = Hayes and Been. They're the in your face and irreplaceable facets in the music, not so much the drummer. But I know some feel otherwise and want Nick back as well so you're not alone.

And yeah...a DVD is well overdue. They're just too good at what they do.

dharma69

I forgot about A Fine Way to Lose. Love this one...and he's gotten better at remembering the lyrics since.

phatucini

Love this band since I saw a live concert on mtv2 just before their debut record came out. I remember that they played "Whatever Happened to My Rock'N'Roll' and that caught my attention ... then they played 'Spread Your Love' & 'White Palms' and I totally fell in love with those bass driven songs. A couple minutes later I pre-ordered the album on amazon and have been loving them evr since: every album of theirs is great to me even the 2nd one!!

muppet

Paid £15 to go see them at Northumbria University last year but I ended up not going because I had an exam the next day. I've been kicking myself ever since!

jervin007

I also saw them open for KOL and I thought they kicked ass! Truthfully, I thought their live show rivaled KOL's and I am a big fan of KOL! Black Rebel Rules!

phatucini

I met Peter Hayes after their last show here in Luxembourg. He has to be one of the coolest guys around, had a chat with the man and I have to say I was impressed with the sheer "calmness" this guy has. Maybe he was just exhausted from the gig or he has blood pressure level that barely keep him alive (mmmh might have been stoned now that I rethink it ...)

I actually got a bootleg of their show they did here in November of 2005 ( they played 28 songs that evening) if anyone is interested I might even be so foolish to upload the baby

yosi1

Saw them for the first time opening for STP. Wasn't that impressed.

RonForchette

phatucini wrote:

I actually got a bootleg of their show they did here in November of 2005 ( they played 28 songs that evening) if anyone is interested I might even be so foolish to upload the baby

I would be very interested. Megaupload can handle larger files. Thanks in advance!

petrocs

Baby 81 is such an amazing album..I've been listening to it nonstop for some reason the last couple days..anyone who doesnt have it must get it

pjoasisrule

petrocs wrote:

Baby 81 is such an amazing album..I've been listening to it nonstop for some reason the last couple days..anyone who doesnt have it must get it

Not only is it possibly my favorite album of this decade but its one of my favorite albums ever. Baby 81 is flawless in my opinion. Whatever you do though, do not listen to The Effects of 333 instrumental album.