Broken Social Scene Break Rules in NYC

Posted on Sep 19th 2010 1:00PM by Emily Tan
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Roger Kisby, Getty Images

When Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew found out that one of his favorite things to do in New York may soon be forbidden, he felt he had no other choice than to show everyone at Central Park's Rumsey Playfield in New York City exactly how he felt.

"...Smoking a cigarette in New York, it's one of my favorite things to do," Drew told the crowd on Saturday night. "I don't know how they are going to ban smoking outdoors. I think I'm going to smoke a cigarette now." As he lit one and blew a cloud of smoke into the air, he cautioned everyone humorously, "Nothing can get to you, but these things are bad for ladies and gentlemen."

With Rumsey Playfield packed with Broken Social Scene devotees, the band knew they had to give the fans as much as they could, considering the show's 10PM curfew. However, the band played with the idea of actually going a bit overtime. "Sam [Goldberg] and Marty [Davis Kinack] got on the monitor and said let's kick the s--- out o this place and pay the fine," Drew announced before performing 'Superconnected.'

As fun as it would have been for everyone at Rumsey Playfield, the band managed to fill their two-hour set with songs from their latest record, 'Forgiveness Rock Record,' as well as old songs like 'Lover's Spit,' 'Hotel' and 'Anthem of a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl,' which featured Leslie Sisson of Wooden Birds, who joined Lisa Lobsinger onstage midway through the song.

Drew took things to another level when he told Goldberg, Charlie Spearin and Brendan Canning to jump into the crowd and crowd surf. "New York, I got to send some people in there for you," he said putting down his guitar. "Are you going to take care of them? Be careful with my boys."

Since the Canadian indie rock band did feel pressed for time, they passed on the traditional act of getting off the stage then back on for the encore. "This is the encore," Drew announced. "We don't really have much time to get off the stage, so let's do this!"

The band played 'Water in Hell,' 'Chase Scene' and Drew's personal favorite, 'Looks Just Like the Sun.' However, the band made sure to end on a high note when they made 'Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day)' more of an interactive experience. "Some things we learned in life, we're going to sing it with you all," Drew said as he got everyone sing "F--- you, I won't do what you tell me," over and over until the band played the last chords of their memorable set.

Broken Social Scene's current tour continues through the fall, making stops in Europe and Canada and ending in Quebec City on Dec. 19.