Placebo- PHILADELPHIA, PA written by Lynn


One of the best things about being very 'into' a band
that you've come to love, be it through lyrics or the
melodies that are played, the way they morph together
to create one complete sound, or the energy the
artists display onstage, is the way  that music makes
us feel. It's hard to argue the fact that music, in
general, appeals to our emotions, which is one of the
reasons why we like it so much.
Some music is low and sad. Some of it's upbeat and
happy. Still some yet goes up and down and up again
like a roller coaster at Six Flags, leaving you
wondering whether you're coming or going when
you leave the venue, having had some magical spell
cast on you that held you in its trance and sent you
on journeys of the mind, both near and far. Music
makes us feel. Music, all kinds, appeals to our
senses in ways that only music can, be it a single
player in the corner at a dimly-lit coffee house, or a

full orchestra at a sold-out amphitheater. It's the tune that affects us, and the way in which it's played, and naturally, every person is
affected by different tunes in different ways. None of this is really a foreign idea, or anything new to anyone reading this, as I'm sure
you've all experienced your share of emotions during a concert or even a movie, that score just getting to you... right there. This is why
it's said that music can actually heal the soul, because the right music, it can lift spirits and cure depression and make you lose weight
and increase your IQ and, ok, well... maybe not all that, but you get my point.


















From the the opening song, Infrared, off their latest release Meds, Placebo took the stage with style, thumping beats and bass lines
immediately pulling us all into a hold and keeping us there for the next hour and a half or so as they played through an extensive
catalogue of their best songs. Singer/guitarist Brian Molko sounded like he was right off the albums, his uniquely piercing voice so well
trained and tuned as they moved into Meds, the title track, and then continued into Drag, also off Meds. Stefan Olsdal, switching on and
off between bass and guitar, was amazing in his obvious talent as he effortlessly played while keeping eye contact with the audience
almost the entire time; it was almost seductive, the way he was watching all those that were watching him. Drummer Steve Hewitt
played an impressive set without a beat out of place. The three were accompanied by touring musicians covering keyboards and synth,
as well as backing guitars or bass, whenever Stefan was playing the other. Throughout the set they played most of Meds, including a
beautiful version of Follow the Cops Back Home, which is a song that lends itself so well to being played live. The entire audience was
silent, mesmerized, as the slightly somber tune echoed through the hall, creating an emotional environment accentuated by the moody
stage lights, blue, pink, violet and red.

Other songs performed that night included Every You, Every Me, The Bitter
End, Taste In Men, Sleeping with Ghosts, One of a Kind, Post Blue, Blind, and
36 Degrees among others. They played a tireless set, both Brian and Stefan
switching guitars every song or two, bringing out a number of bass guitars,
and probably one of the most impressive collection of electric guitars I've seen
on a tour yet, including a number of lesser-seen Gretsch Hollow Body electrics,
as well as the tried and true Gibson Les Pauls. They alternated between some
more energetic songs, keeping everyone well entertained with titles such as
Special K, You Don't Care About Us and Teenage Angst, only to slow things
down to a more pensive, thoughtful mood with Blind, a haunting performance
of Special Needs, and Twenty Years. It seemed to me that they played just
about everything they should have played, although I will admit I did miss the
performances of both Pure Morning and Nancy Boy; I'm told Placebo rarely
plays the latter live anymore, however.

As a casual fan of Placebo - I own their CDs, and definitely have my 'obsessive
Placebo times', where they don't come out of the player, though I can't say I
know every factoid about the band, its members or their music - I have looked
forward to having the chance to see the band live. It always seems as though
every time they've toured through my area since I've been a listener though,
I hadn't managed to get to a show for one reason or another. Well I'm sure this
will please the hardcore Placebo fans out there to know, but after the
performance I attended at the TLA, I've added Placebo to my 'Do Not Miss'

list, which has been growing dangerously larger these past few years. I think I may need to get a second job to keep myself able to see
all these shows as they come around one by one. No mistaking it though, even for a fan that may only know a song or two, Placebo is
well worth the ticket price paid for the sheer personal experience that each and every one of you will likely have.

On their MySpace page, under the band biography link, Placebo is called a "darkly romantic act that speaks to the soul". Honestly,
whoever came up with that line has it, exactly; they have obviously been moved to emotion by this band at a show as well. Look for
Placebo later this summer across the US once again, touring with Projekt Revolution.
PLACEBO AT
THE TLA,
PHILADELPHIA
, PA
Tuesday, April
10, 2007

Photos and
review by
Lynn Malpass
MLM
Photography
X4
I love music. With an italicized 'love'. I love to feel things, and feel them
intensely at that, and other than riding down that first giant decline on Nitro,
there isn't much else that can make me feel as intense as a good concert
can. It's rare that I've been to a show that honestly displeased or
disappointed me, I'm that much of a music lover, and I've been to a lot of
shows, let me tell you. I've listened to a lot of bands, both signed and
unsigned. I've listened to album after album of my favorite artists, my ear
getting attuned to their particular style and loving everything I've heard. I've
been moved and touched and everything in between, but in all my
concert-going years I can say one thing - I have never before been made to
feel that I needed a cigarette immediately following a show the way I did
after seeing Placebo live, Tuesday April 10 at the reknown Theater of the
Living Arts, the TLA, in Philadelphia. But of course, this is Placebo we're
talking about. Should I have expected otherwise? Of course I ask this in a
completely complimentary and positive way, considering the allusion of
sexuality and debauchery that sometimes arises upon the mention of the
band's name.