Broken Social Scene Brings New Album to Chicago

Although it's been nearly five months since Broken Social Scene released their new album, 'Forgiveness Rock Record,' you wouldn't have been able to guess it from the packed crowd at The Riviera Theater in Chicago on Saturday night. The band seemed just as excited to be there as their fans did.

"We've spent a lot of time in this town," frontman Kevin Drew announced as the multitude of band members took their places on-stage around 9PM. They launched into 'World Sick,' the first single off their new album, without much hesitation. Hiding under ghostly blue lights, the chiming chords rung out and fans nodded along enthusiastically.

Segueing directly into 'KC Accidental,' a true crowd leaser from 2002's critical breakthrough, 'You Forgot It In People,' Drew led the rest of the band from his perch in the back behind several keyboards. During a break in between songs, the crowd got a bit rowdy and yelled out suggestions. "We appreciate your input, but we're just getting started," Brendan Canning said to quiet the crowd. Canning and the rest of the band didn't disappoint, ripping through older favorites like '7/4 (Shoreline)' and 'Fire-Eyed Boy,' as well as newer songs like 'Texico Bitches' and 'All To All' -- the latter of which had Lisa Lobsinger roaming the stage barefoot as she captivated fans with her beguiling vocals.

Jubilant cheers and applause rang out several songs later for 'You Forgot It In People' favorite 'Stars and Sons,' as Andrew Whiteman and Drew led the crowd in a clap-along. Their set reached its most contemplative moment when Drew brought out Metric guitarist Jimmy Shaw for the ballad 'Sweetest Kill,' announcing that it was a song that he and Jimmy had written together in Mexico and brought back to show the rest of the band.

Towards the last half of Broken Social Scene's set, all the band members exited the stage, leaving Drew behind on the keyboard. He began to play the opening piano chords to 'Lover's Spit' and the crowd cheered. "Sing it with me," Drew said, and fans eagerly complied, their voice resounding throughout the theater. "We have twenty minutes left to play, so we're just going to play it out," Drew said, explaining the lack of their usual encore. The one-two punch of 'Meet Me In The Basement' and 'Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Half)' closed out their epic two-hour long set, further underscoring Broken Social Scene's love of performing and giving back to their dedicated fans.