The Blood Brothers / The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower

The Blood Brothers / The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower: live in Philadelphialive in Philadelphia (2005)
Sony Music Entertainment

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

Contributed by: Matt_WhelihanMatt Whelihan
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 31st 2005Big Business started the night at the Trocadero Theatre with their brand of abrasive rock. Coady Willis's drumming was incredible. He seemed to be constantly playing fills and his hands were a perpetual blur. What hurt the band's set was Jared Warren's bass tone, which was so muddled his changes wer.

Big Business started the night at the Trocadero Theatre with their brand of abrasive rock. Coady Willis's drumming was incredible. He seemed to be constantly playing fills and his hands were a perpetual blur. What hurt the band's set was Jared Warren's bass tone, which was so muddled his changes were almost indistinguishable.

The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower was up next. They took the stage clad in matching black jackets with red armbands and launched into their spastic, disjointed style of punk. Frontman Brandon Welchez was part Dennis Lyxzén, part Mick Jagger as he pranced around on stage in his sultry and twisted manner. Over the course of the set he jerked off his microphone, spit high into the air and caught it in his mouth, and crawled around on the stage like he had just been brutally beaten. His saxophone playing added an interesting twist, but at points just sounded strange and out of place. The rest of the band were also energetic and over the top in their performance. It was great to see guitarist Chuck Rowell's "the show must go on" attitude when one end of his strap fell off and he continued to not only play, but also rock out, without it. Morgan Henderson from the Blood Brothers joined the band on one song playing a mini-melodica wind piano. Again, like Big Business, there were some sound problems. The bass and drums were clear, but the guitar and vocals provided more screechy noise than anything else. Ultimately, the band's set was short but entertaining to watch.

The crowd at the Troc had been pretty calm all night. There were a couple small pits during The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, but they never lasted too long. This all changed when the Blood Brothers took the stage and launched into "Beautiful Horses." The crowd suddenly became a giant teeming mass of shoving and dancing, raised fists and shouted lyrics.

The Blood Brothers put on an amazing show full of sassy grooves and hardcore madness. Johnny Whitney and Jordan Billie criscrossed the stage with seizure-like antics and were able to nail all those shrieks that seem too high-pitched to be human. The two vocalists took the sexual energy of classic performers like David Bowie and mixed it with the passion of hardcore. Cody Votolato and Morgan Henderson also danced their asses off, going back and forth between aggressive spasms and the fancy footwork of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez.

The Blood Brothers songs may be complex combinations of seemingly disparate parts, but live they managed to be tight through all of the shifts and changes. They also added little flourishes and variances to their songs. Votolato changed some of his guitar parts a bit, while Henderson added extra bangs on the keyboard, and the band always extends the "You don't need a doctor honey, you need a mortician baby" section of "Jennifer." This was also the first time I saw Henderson play second guitar on a few songs. This added to the Brothers' wide diversity and ability to re-create their songs live.

The band's set was made up almost exclusively of tracks from Burn, Piano Island, Burn and Crimes. In fact, the only two songs not from those albums were "Jennifer" and "Mr. Electric Ocean." The rest of the set included songs such as "Feed Me To The Forest," "Trash Flavored Trash," "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers," "Fucking's Greatest Hits," "Rats And Rats And Rats For Candy," "Crimes," "Ambulance Vs. Ambulance," "Cecilia And The Silhouette Saloon," and "Celebrator." For their encore they rocked through "Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck" and a cover of Queen's "Under Pressure," which was a far superior version to the Used and My Chemical Romance's take on it, and included harmonized screams, hyper speed playing, and only minimal use of the famous bass line.

The Blood Brothers know how to put on a show that is pleasing to both the eyes and the ears. Their screamy, convulsive, and sinister take on hardcore is only amplified live thanks to an explosive and jittery stage presence that leaves you wanting more.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

etwiels88 (June 8, 2005)

"i went to this show, one of the best shows ive seen live..."

ew...

Anonymous (June 6, 2005)

i went to this show, one of the best shows ive seen live, great energy, great music. loved it. it was funny to see the type of people that went, very amusing. i got some good pics... and even got to meet them afterwards, cool guys, very nice and sweet.

melissamorphet (June 5, 2005)

Great summary of that night. I was there, and it was as amazing as you described it.

Anonymous (June 5, 2005)

Ouch to not lovin' the homie Bayles. What'd he do to get 1 star?

CherryColaRain (June 4, 2005)

Ok anchors sorry for typing LoL. and u. im sorry if i like simplifying my life when im tired. and I like this site because the reviewers are actually good at what they do so I think I'll stay

Anonymous (June 4, 2005)

"Score is for Matt Bayles."

So is mine.

Anonymous (June 4, 2005)

"Score is for Plot live in Providence. "

I was at that show, it just seemed like they were trying to be like the Blood Brothers and failing.

piratasmuertas (June 3, 2005)

"... Brandon is sex, hes the ideal sassy frontman. And they pull off their music perfect. Scores for Brandon being the effin hottest singer out there, and having one hell of a band to back him up. "

What a fuckin' scene comment!

Score is for Matt Bayles.

stevejonestherealbones (June 3, 2005)

"Gayrilla Biscuits rule. Their demo is so fun."

i think alot of people dont realize they are a real band.,..and its not just me throwing GAY around again...people are so gay sometimes

- jones

Anonymous (June 3, 2005)

correction.. not wearing girl jeans

Anonymous (June 3, 2005)

I saw Blood Brothers in san diego with the mean reds this year and I felt bad because I think I was the oldest one at the show and Im only 19. They only played songs off crimes and when someone yelled to play old stuff they told the kid that his mom was waiting outside in the minivan. I think I was the only one there wearing girls jeans.

Anonymous (June 2, 2005)

I saw this show a little while ago and missed out on the Under Preassure cover song.

Anyways, what I was going to comment on was how horrible the two opening bands were- and I'm all for experimental music. The Plot were fucking horrible... I can't believe I actually paid for a ticket to this show.

And I'm over 19 so you can probably guess what kind of kids I got to deal with while taking pictures at the front. It was actually great because the heavily made up dyed black hair kids would just sneer instead of even trying to tell me off.

Blood Brothers- I really liked Crimes in comparison to Burn Piano and the other one so I wasn't too disappointed with their set lists. I wish I had had a chance to have talked to them... damn those 14 year old girls.

Anchors (June 2, 2005)

If you type 'u' instead of 'you,' 'ur' instead of 'your', or 'lol' you'll probably want to make your way to one of the following sites:

www.nick.com
www.absolutepunk.net

Anonymous (June 2, 2005)

I went to two shows of this tour. I remember seeing the Blood Brothers for the first time being in awe of their presence. But then I met The Plot. The Plot is so more into it on stage. Brandon is sex, hes the ideal sassy frontman. And they pull off their music perfect. While the Blood Brothers play really sloppy and only Jordan and Johnny get into it. Much love to the Blood Bros, but The Plot has nocked the crowd on their feet at the shows I went to. Scores for Brandon being the effin hottest singer out there, and having one hell of a band to back him up.

-501

crossfiyaaa (June 2, 2005)

Gayrilla Biscuits rule. Their demo is so fun.

CherryColaRain (June 2, 2005)

LoL i dont get how liking a band can make u cool. Or how age matters on what music u listen to. either u like it or u dont its all very simple. just clearing that up. Now on to the show I love TPTBTET and the sax playin gives them their own little twist and blood brothers as said before are always great. I've yet to listen to Big Business though. anyways probably a great show and good review

Anonymous (June 2, 2005)

""i wish i was cool enough to pretend i like this band'

haha, probably the bet comment I've seen on this site in a long time"

That depends. Liking the Blood Brothers doesn't really get you any cool points at all if you're over like 19.

Anonymous (June 1, 2005)

"i wish i was cool enough to pretend i like this band'

haha, probably the bet comment I've seen on this site in a long time

stevejonestherealbones (June 1, 2005)

"Jones doesn't like it. Must be good."

umm...when did i say i didnt like it? i'm a fan of blood brothers and big business.....i havent heard plot...dont think i like em too much, but i do know a couple things about them...

but this was close to being the GAYest tour since GAY came to GAY town.....had GAYrilla buscuits opened

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (June 1, 2005)

Jones doesn't like it. Must be good.

Anonymous (June 1, 2005)

"That song was for a 31G Queen Tribute Album and done years before the Used and MCR. C'mon on now, you didn't think the latter two bands had actually thought something out on thier own did you?"

The idiocy of the last sentence is mind boggling

Anonymous (June 1, 2005)

i wish i was cool enough to pretend i like this band

Benjasaurus (May 31, 2005)

Saw these dudes in Richmond. Fucking amazing. Almost the exact same set list, minus the encore. I can't imagine anyone calling these guys "bad" live.

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

the lead singer of the plot... always does the same thing. its like he is trying to be offensive, but just looks like a jackass

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

Under Pressure is a collaboration song. Bowie & Queen.

I was at this show, and this has been one of the gayest crowds I've seen at a show in Philly lately. What kind of faggot kid tries to dance hardcore for Blood Brothers? I'm a hardcore kid and I know that's retarded. Also, the crazy bitch screaming at some guy about groping her when I was standing next to him nearly the entire night and he was just dancing around. Fucking elektriccck kids...

"Posted by psychoos231 on 2005-05-31 02:20:21
Under Pressure............now they have won over the MTV crowd."

They've been covering that song for years.

bloodbrothersburnpiano (May 31, 2005)

i hate how under pressure is always credited soley to queen when actually it was david bowie featuring queen.

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

under pressure is a bowie song.

slippy (May 31, 2005)

The Blood Brothers will always be sweet.

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

holy shit they played under pressure? I thought they said they'd never play that again after recording it for that queen tribute a couple years ago.. I've gotta see that

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

Jared's bass in Big Business is supposed to be muddy. That is the beauty of it.

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

Lolz this is punk man jazz isnt music punk is

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

"Under Pressure............now they have won over the MTV crowd."
That song was for a 31G Queen Tribute Album and done years before the Used and MCR. C'mon on now, you didn't think the latter two bands had actually thought something out on thier own did you?

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

jazz is for people who think they like music
but in reality they hate it

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

I've seen the blood brothers 3 times and although I love them on record, they were pretty bad.

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

Jazz is for people who like music.

I saw the Blood Brothers in Detroit a few weeks ago and was kinda underwhelmed. Their energy level seems to have dropped off from the last time I saw them (back in '03 with Cursive). Maybe it was just me though.

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

jazz is just musical wanking. its all corners.

how do you like them apples?

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

jazz is for art students and their teachers, fuck off the whole bunch of you

bizzlebrizzle (May 31, 2005)

but at points just sounded strange and out of place.

You don't listen to much jazz do you?

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

i saw this show at the nanci raygun in richmond. tiny tiny venue, way sold out. man, i miss shows like that. it was madness...great show. wasn't really into big business though. plot put on a great show, and blood brothers were just mind-blowing. awesome.

and for the guy below asking, they played "doctor doctor" in richmond.

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

all two bands suck
plots to blow up plots to blow up and plots to blow up blood brothers
trendy wankers

psychoos231 (May 31, 2005)

Under Pressure............now they have won over the MTV crowd.

Anchors (May 31, 2005)

There should have been an or in there somewhere.

Anchors (May 31, 2005)

These fuckers always manage to avoid playing my favorite songs when I see them. Has anyone seen them play "Doctor, Doctor!" "God Bless You, Bloodthirsty Zeppelins?"

Anonymous (May 31, 2005)

Score is for Plot live in Providence.

I found Blood Brothers to be underwhelming. Some songs they played I hadn't heard before and were interesting, I'm guessing they're on the new album which I haven't heard. Unfortunately, their older stuff failed to keep my attention though I wanted to enjoy their set, I left about half way through.

stevejonestherealbones (May 31, 2005)

too bad gayrilla biscuits werent the opener instead of big business...cause then i could call this the gayest gay tour since gay came to gay town

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

- score is for aqua teen and "the shaving...the shaving"

ubershep (May 31, 2005)

I wonder how long the Blood Brothers can keep this up and not grow a career halting polyp.

CaveatMalefactor (May 31, 2005)

The Blood Brothers are amazing live.

Archangel (May 31, 2005)

Oh, and this score is for the lack of a lengthy, crappy introduction. Seriously, way to avoid that.

Archangel (May 31, 2005)

I may have to go to this show simply for the cover of Under Pressure.