Van Tango

Placebo @ MTV Fashionably Loud Singapore (23rd March 2006)
Review By : Nasreen Lina Chowdhury

A style packed catwalk extravaganza with an electrifying live band performance does indeed go together pretty superbly. And when that certain band happens to be PLACEBO, you know it's gonna be more than out of this world.

To get straight to the point, Placebo were awesome. And I'm not saying that just because I'm a huge fan, but anyone who'd attended the event would tell you that from the moment the dirty guitars of "Taste In Men" started, right until the band left us with their message for us to meet them at "The Bitter End" there was not a single moment the audience wasn't lost in the music. Placebo know all about creating rhythmic music, and no matter where you are or what you're doing, it hypnotizes your mind - and when watching them live, the feeling of being under the control of the music multiplies manifold. Brian's voice was mesmerizing and haunting, and their all-too-real penetrating lyrics melted into the surreal. In fact there was literal pandemonium when they started playing the classic "Every You Every Me". Other crowd favourites were "Because I Want You", the first single taken of their latest record, Meds, and the melancholic "Without You I'm Nothing".

Brian Molko, with his sheer flawless beauty (yes, beauty) and rock star stage presence effortlessly overshadowed the models strutting down the catwalk. And what's more, he didn't have to do as much to achieve that. Bassist Stephan Olsdal took a few walks down the catwalk whilst playing - in his own highly rock star stylish flamboyance. And he too definitely got more attention doing that than the models could get... it was probably the only time the majority of the crowd in the mosh pit turned their heads in the direction of the catwalk. I though for one wish I could have seen more of Steve Hewitt, who was hidden behind the drums the whole while whilst producing some awesome beats.

I believe the audience traveled similar journeys together, all of us entranced, caught up in Placebo's creative web until, alas, returning us to the hallowed ground we share, untangled from their grasp, only to bid us ado - changed for the better having heard them play. In fact Brian Molko, with his sheer beauty (yes, beauty) and stage presence did not need to utter a single word for the whole night except introduce "One Of A Kind" with, 'This is taken off the new album' and a sweet and simple 'Thank you' before (literally) running off the stage.

This might have been an event showcasing fashion and music, but believe me, you can keep Kenzo and Gaultier any day. Just give me my Placebo.

Track List:

Main set
Taste In Men
Follow The Cops Back Home
Because I want You
Infra-Red
Without You I'm Nothing
Song To Say Goodbye
Every You Every Me

Encore
One Of A Kind
The Bitter End
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More pics [ Taitse / Priscilla / Wireimage ]
Interview articles [ Todayonline / Electric TNP ]
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