Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
Billed initially as a secret gig, the cat was well and truly out of the bag with the declaration in large letters outside Shepherds Bush Empire that Placebo were gracing the stage tonight.
Initially advertised under their original band name of Ashtray Heart, Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal are here to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Riverman with their sparkling glam infused shots of caffeine-fuelled adrenaline.
The evening was billed as a one-off and true to form this was a career spanning set that mixed fan favourites and deeper cuts with the outfits seemingly carefree aplomb, eschewing some notable numbers but thrilling the packed audience irrespectively.
Opening the night, fast rising Petch was a savvy choice for support, the young singer and guitarist providing suitably dazzling shapes and sounds to entertain those gathered.
Not long into her teens, the fourteen-year-old has already become a sensation, busking on the streets of her native Bangkok and appearing on ‘Asia’s Got Talent’, honing her craft and by the performance here, a star is born.
Not lacking confidence, this was a ballsy display and Petch and is more than capable of ripping out roaring slabs of earworm rock like ‘9 Volter’ and ‘Hatemail’ with verve.
Standing along with just her guitar and a microphone, this is familiar territory for someone who is used to draw and hold crowds in the palm of her hand but winning over a partisan crowd of the committed like this is something special. The future of rock ‘n’ roll may well be here with us already.
Despite forming three decades ago, Placebo also retain a youthful vigour and are sounding as fresh tonight as they ever have done.
With his hair grown longer these days and sporting a fine moustache, Molko has less of the strikingly androgenous looks of old but still has cheekbones you could cut yourself on and with the band just as sharp.
This is a band who have refined their artful swagger to crushing effect and ‘Taste in Men’ is a spiky stab of electronica to open with, the gorgeous groove of ‘Beautiful James’ from last album ‘Never Let Me Go’ an immediate switch that somehow just flows seamlessly.
The sound is crystal clear, each note ringing out and the sticker on Molko’s SG that states ‘Fuck Your Ears’ mixes their whole ethos of loud seduction and from numbers like ‘Bionic’ from their debut and a skyscraping ‘Song to Say Goodbye’ do just that.
During all this, Olsdal throws shapes as he swings his bass around and provides the beating heart of the rhythm, the balance of rock aesthetic and seemingly effortless style matching his partner in crime as the duo lead from the front. Amongst the visceral attack and fist pumping anthems, ‘Try Better Next Time’ and ‘For What It’s Worth’ see the crowd bouncing in euphoric abandon and it’s impossible to not get swept away by it all, this being a celebration after all.
Whilst ‘Nancy Boy’ may be missing from the set tonight, a blazing ‘The Bitter End’ ticks a ‘huge hits’ box but this isn’t a set that panders to the casual and the b-sides and lesser played numbers give it all a sense of danger and intrigue that the band themselves have made their calling card.
Closing the night with their stunning take on the Kate Bush classic ‘Running Up that Hill (A Deal with God)’, Placebo remain one of the most individual bands on the planet and, always seen as outsiders, long may their voices continue to ring out for all those craving freedom from the tight structures and norms of society. All hail the freedom fighters.
Photography by Manuela Langotsch for MPM
