Let me just start this off by saying that I primarily wanted to see The Jezabels so I could try on Brighton Music Hall for size. Boy did I not know what I was missing. Brighton Music Hall is the ideal place to wait for a concert with its two pool tables and bars surrounded by LCD TVs. As far as watching the show goes, the stage sits at chest level and you can rest your elbows on it. The sound quality isn’t too bad either, nor is it too crowded (despite the “Sold Out” label for this show I had plenty of room to move around). It feels like a larger, more organized, and cleaner Middle East Upstairs with fancy lighting.
The two openers were Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Imagine Dragons. Leftwich’s voice was laden with John Mayer and could charm any girl over the radio, but he lacked a stage presence. Imagine Dragons however, took the cake. I happened to be standing next to a group from the University of Maine who had traveled four hours to see them. Four hours just to see the opener! Imagine Dragons played On Top of the World, Radioactive and It’s Time (which they released on MTV as their first music video on Tuesday). Imagine Dragons’ genre lies in the indie pop and alternative land of Fun. and Young the Giant. Drummer Daniel Plantzman was captivating as he struck each piece of his set with passion and Dan Reynolds could not have made a better impression as he led the band with each bang of his singular large bass drum. The lack of audience enthusiasm did not damper a phenomenal performance.
Even after receiving a warmer reaction from the audience, The Jezabels couldn’t top the genius that is Imagine Dragons. All wore jet black clothes and Hayley Mary’s salt and pepper bob dropped down past the bridge of her nose. The only semblance of color on the stage was her coral lipstick. The set began with Mace Spray and continued through Cherry Pie and Easy to Love. Hayley moved mechanically in time with the music, barely smiling. Her voice rang like crystal through the sound system, and each note sounded identical to the record track.
Aside from this, I got the vibe that I was at an emo punk concert and not indie rock. Their image differed immensely from the one they project on their album covers. I don’t know if this is an Australian thing, but Hayley only cracked a smile once during the show. Aside from her talent, I found the show lacked the soul I expected from each one of The Jezabels’ moving songs. After Hurt Me the crowd cheered, the band ran off stage, the crowed jeered, and the band came back. They proceeded to announce that Nikolas Kaloper’s neck was bleeding, but the hell with it! They were going to finish the show. So Nik banged out Little Piece on the drums while the rusty red blotch on his neck got larger. I’m not sure if I should label that dedication or insanity, but Little Piece delivered what the audience wanted: a cold attitude and a lack of passion for the music. I’d drive for hours for Imagine Dragons, but not more than 10 minutes to see The Jezabels. They sound great on CDs, EPs and records, but seeing them live isn’t any better than you get on a piece of plastic. Imagine Dragons made my $15 worth it.
The Jezabels and Imagine Dragons part ways on April 21st in Minneapolis when the Jezabels continue their North American tour in Canada and the northwestern US.
By Moira Poje