Fantastic!
by Luke on 7/31/24Music Farm - CharlestonRating: 5 out of 5It was a fantastic show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Venue
Venue
Venue
The Showbox
Venue
Venue
Over the past 20 years, The New Pornographers have proven themselves one of the most excellent bands in indie rock. They have released nine studio albums, including their classic debut Mass Romantic and their latest 2023's Continue as a Guest, which marked their debut for Merge Records.
They've constantly offered new sonic surprises with every album, and have established themselves alongside modern luminaries like Yo La Tengo and Superchunk when it comes to their ability to evolve while still retaining what made them so special in the first place. Of the newest record, New York Magazine lauded, "The New Pornographers are a massive unit bursting with unique and intersecting talents...the band's ninth album serves another helping of their signature dish."
The band's new single "Ballad of the Last Payphone" is out now with a new full-length album slated for release in 2026 - more details to come.
Critical acclaim for The New Pornographers:
"Over the course of their 20-plus-year career, the New Pornographers have often specialized in catchy ambiguity. If leader Carl Newman was just a machine cranking out power-pop tunes, it would get boring. But there's also a lot of mixed emotions going on under the surface of their studiously nuanced pop-rock formalism--like if Cheap Trick was as quick-witted as Steely Dan, or the Romantics were as thoughtful as R.E.M."
- Rolling Stone
"Pure, blissfully irresistible power pop"
- NPR Music
"[The New Pornographers] make catchy, sophisticated alternate-universe hits."
- Stereogum
It was a fantastic show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a great time seeing TNP perform! They sounded amazing live and interacted with the audience.
They have so many upbeat songs but chose a pretty meh set list. They are such excellent musicians - all of them - but lack any kind of act or showmanship, most just kind of stand there and play looking completely disinterested in entertaining.
I met up with a friend from school to go see this show. We both came in from out of town. I was really excited in as much as I have been a big fan for a long time. My friend and I both (independently) came to the conclusion that they had played very few of their many fan-favorite, concert-friendly bangers. This was perplexing and frustrating. Actually, most of the songs on the set list seemed to come from the most recent two albums (which are weak). I understand the desire a promote the album for which you are touring, but those songs aren't what brought people to the show. The band was tight and very professional, and their musicianship was excellent. But they made no effort to interact with the crowd, to make the experience special for the crowd that was in attendance that night. In other words, they put on a good musical performance, but a lackluster show. Neko Case stares above the level of the crowd as she sings. She had only a few words here and there for the crowd. Furthermore, not sure if it was the band's production, or if it was the sound system of the venue, but the output was way too powerful for the style of music. The result was a kind of tinny-sounding feedback, for lack of a better word. And one small complaint about the merch. They had only one T-shirt with the beautiful and intriguing artwork from the new album. It was small (you had to be on top of it to see what it was) and in the upper left. Missed opportunity.
They’re always a good time. The band has gone through some arrivals and departures but they can still play the hits. And they know the songs people love, like High Ticket Attractions, Brill Bruisers and Moves. There were no aisles to dance in like the last time I saw them, but I still left very happy.
Great performance. Good sound quality and level, as they are not a blast it type of band.
The vibe was great, they played my favorite song (this is the world of the theatre) and I couldn't have asked for more!
Everyone was "on". The sound was spot-on. The vocals were crisp and clear. The sax added additional texture to the earlier songs that originally didn't have a sax in the mix. The concert was well worth driving across the state to see. Keep touring, NP!
The overall performance was boring. There was nothing keeping me there.
Even without (out sick) Dan Bejar, the Pornos rocked the Regent Theater playing the classic “Twin Cinema” album in its entirety! They returned to the stage and finished with another NINE songs of more recent vintage! An intimate space, the Regent’s raked floor made for great sight lines for this general admission show!