While the only original members of Echo & the Bunnymen remaining in the band are lead singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant, the other members of the touring group have been pretty regular fixtures over the past several tours and as they took to Brooklyn Paramount on their latest U.S. visit, things were sounding mostly solid until McCulloch tried to stretch his voice past his range which unfortunately was a good portion of the evening. Sergeant's guitar sounds were rich and full, billowing clouds of gothic haze matching the dense fog that also draped itself over the edge of the stage, giving the fruitful lighting display a thick atmosphere to hang out in and add some depth to night's plush arrangements. At times the drums also sounded muddled and off beat, the band taking a moment to find their rhythm while McCulloch's vocals were raspy and drowned out by his fellow bandmates. "The Cutter" was a moment when things started to pick up, the riffs getting the crowd to loosen up, but things stalled a tad when McCulloch tried to get the crowd to audience to carry the vocals which wasn't met with the same enthusiasm as he had apparently expected. Things perked up again for "Seven Seas," another number that could've met the moment of the swelling chorus and the key change to take things to the next level, but once again the momentum was lost and things didn't quite hit the mark. Every now and then he'd crack through and we'd get a tease of what could be, an occasional bridge and chorus striking like a match and igniting the mood, but just when it seemed like things had finally popped, McCulloch would crash and his voice would turn into wisps of its former self. An interpolation of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" during "Nothing Lasts Forever," was a redeeming number and the crowd was actually ready to assist on the vocals for this go around and helped push things over the edge even if it was for only a moment. As the night wore on, we got to what could've been a brilliant close, but instead fell slightly flat. Even as the charming and chiming guitars of "Bring on the Dancing Horses" carried over the room, fans were still delighted, their hands waving in the air as everyone swayed along with its magnetic pull. Transitioning wonderfully into "The Killing Moon," Sergeant's twelve string guitar was in prime form and echoed through the hall with triumphant force. Coming back on stage for another nearly-there take of "Lips Like Sugar" also nearly had its moments as the band flushed out the tune with vibrant colors as McCulloch once again pushed himself beyond his limits, his weary voice adding more of a fade than a sparkle. Another long break saw a massive part of the crowd make their way out of the building before the band concluded the night with a bleary "Ocean Rain" that was really made most effective by Sergeant's blown-out guitar that pushed a wall of sound over the crowd in one last burst before everything came to an end with little fan fare.
Set list:
01 "Going Up"
02 "All That Jazz"
03 "Heads Will Roll"
04 "Crocodiles"
05 "The Cutter"
06 "Flowers"
07 "Over the Wall"
08 "Seven Seas"
09 "Rescue"
10 "All My Colours (Zimbo)"
11 "Nothing Lasts Forever"
12 "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo"
13 "Villiers Terrace"
14 "Bring On the Dancing Horses"
15 "The Killing Moon"
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16 "Lips Like Sugar"
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17 "Ocean Rain"
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