R.E.M. Accelerate Tour

Lindsay and I went to see R.E.M. in concert last night at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul. It was my first time seeing the band perform live. I have been a fan of R.E.M. since "Murmur" and still remember the day I was introduced to the band by an old junior high school friend at the bus stop.

The National and Modest Mouse opened for R.E.M. and they both did an outstanding job, I only wish I could say the same for R.E.M. I have always wanted to believe that the band I loved so much would come back strong, and sad to say they still haven’t made a full recovery from Bill Berry’s 1997 departure.

Their last album "Around the Sun" didn’t trip my trigger and I think their new CD "Accelerate" will leave their base of fans in the dust. R.E.M. just doesn’t have their signature sound anymore. Since the CD "Up" or maybe it was the song "Shiny Happy People," they’re sounding more and more like a pop band than the neo-anarchist spawn of "The Velvet Underground" or "DK" they used to be.

R.E.M. has always been involved one way or another in political movements local and global. Now that I’ve gotten older it no longer appeals to me and actually turns me off. Michael Stipe did some Obama support rhetoric which seemed to capture about as much excitement as when he told fans they were going to be playing a lot of their new songs. I was almost embarrassed when he paused to the sound of near silence when he quickly follow up with "and some old songs" which drew a thunderous applause from the crowd.

Stipe can still perform with his signature stage presence you’ve at least seen on television, however, the rest of the band members seemed tired and awkward. Actually I’ll say the entire concert seemed a little awkward after the whole Obama shout out and I’m not sure if it was the vibe Stipe was getting from the audience or if he was desperately searching for the way it used to be and couldn’t find it. They barely played two hours before they announced the end of the concert and left. The house lights came on within 30 seconds.

I’m really disappointed. They are no longer the R.E.M. I remember and maybe they should consider performing under a new name. When they formed in 1980 they considered the band name Cans of Piss. After the performance last night, I feel like we were all handed one as we left the Excel Energy Center.

Elvis is remembered as the King of Rock-n-Roll. After "Accelerate" it might be hard to remember R.E.M. as being the father of alternative rock. Perhaps that should be given to The Smiths. Speaking of The Smiths, Stipe had Johnny Marr who is now with Modest Mouse come out and play "Losing My Religion" with the band. Maybe next year Cans of Piss will open for Modest Mouse?