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By Landin King (words) and Jonathan Marx (images)
2008.3
As he entered stage center to a hail of screams from a marvelous crowd, Michael Stipe declared, “Children of Langaredo count with me!” He proudly sported a bright green t-shirt bearing the single word “Obama” in bold black letters.
After orchestrating a sound-starved crowd of 15,000 in a countdown backwards from ten, R.E.M. launched into their opening track, “What’s The Frequency Kenneth.” Throughout the song, Stipe posed for numerous photos, stretching out his shirt to make sure his Barack support was crystal clear.
Belting the song with as much fervor as when it was recorded in 1994, Stipe wailed on a harmonica and then carelessly hurled it into the audience. Once he’d made his election support very clear, Stipe removed the Obama t-shirt and launched it into the sea of listeners. Someone in the photo pit caught the shirt but Stipe quickly told the member of the media to give the shirt to a “real fan.” (Some media are real fans-Ed.)
Photos by Jonatahan Marx
After “Living Well's The Best Revenge”—a track slated for the upcoming release, Accelerate—the band vigorously kicked into “Bad Day.” In response to the band’s surging energy, the audience went completely wild.
As the next song began, Stipe put on a white button up shirt and an off-white khaki coat. Slowing things down, they played “Drive,” which could be interpreted as a message to the predominately younger crowd at the sixth annual Langerado music festival (many of us weren’t even alive when Stipe, Buck, Mills, and Berry released Murmur twenty-five years ago).
Lines like “Hey kids, rock and roll, Nobody tells you where to go” echoed through a silently adoring crowd with a mass of power. Maintaining this slower pace, we moved to “Fall On Me,” “Hollow Man” (another track due to be released on Accelerate), and “So. Central Rain.”
Wielding a megaphone, Stipe reignited the excitement and pace with a perfect and crushing execution of “Orange Crush.” The lights flashed orange and white in all directions.
Throughout his performance, Stipe maintained a rock star stance in the best sense. His self-confidence on stage took the show to a completely different level. Without having quite as much success as hoped from their last few releases, the band is confident that Accelerate will be a different story all together. Stipe described the new songs as “great and fantastic” and bluntly told the audience that they would not only love them but would also be completely entertained for the rest of their evening. Judging from the reactions he received, this was no lie.
Photos by Jonatahan Marx
After a couple more new tracks and the dedication of the song “Imitation of Life” to Martin Luther King, Stipe took a couple minutes to get personal with his audience. Calling “Electrolite” a post-card to the 20th century, Stipe explained, “It’s behind us, it’s done, it’s past, it’s over, it was great—I’m glad it’s the 21st century!”
Then, taking another opportunity to plug his opinion on the upcoming election, Stipe described “Houston” as a song about politics and politicians. With glowing tape marking an X over his heart Stipe explained, “In 2008, I am sick to death of being told by top politicians what I should be afraid of and what I should fear. I think I’m wise enough to know what I should fear! I believe in politicians that speak of hope, and that is what this song is about!”
Returning to another classic, the audience blew up for the performance of “Losing My Religion.” The chorus of singing from the relentless crowd was as loud as the speakers through which the band played. The astounding quality held steadfast through “Horse To Water,” (another new song), “Walk Unafraid,” and “The One I Love.”
Following 18 songs, REM left the stage after a flawless show. However, this wasn’t enough. The cold front that moved through Florida on Saturday night left festival attendees so cold they could see their breath. Even so, through the layers and chattering teeth, an overwhelming plea for an encore brought back the band that had made this evening so magical.
Photos by Jonatahan Marx
Once they returned to the Everglades stage, the band transitioned through two more new songs and “Auctioneer” with incredible intricacy. Then, to put the cap on an amazing evening Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, and Michael Mills delivered a strapping recital of “Man on the Moon.”
After almost three decades, REM isn’t going anywhere. After the release of Accelerate and the delivery of a few more shows like this, who knows what we can expect from this epic entourage from Athens, Georgia.
The new album Accelerate debuts on Facebook on March 24 before a March 31 release. For more information on the band, visit remhq.com
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Published on
03-12-2008 at 03:37 PM |
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03-13-2008 12:51 AM -
