New Pornographers bring energy to Buskirk-Chumley

The New Pornographers and My Gold Mask brought energy to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Wednesday.

Performing to a nearly sold-out crowd, My Gold Mask began just after 8 p.m.
“We are so honored to be opening for The New Pornographers,” My Gold Mask guitarist and vocalist Jack Armando said.

This was the first visit to Bloomington for both bands.

“Everyone was really receptive,” Armando said. “They seem to appreciate new music here, and that’s always a good thing when you’re a new band.”

The New Pornographers began after 9:15 p.m. and started with “Sing Me Spanish Techno,” which was received with cheers and applause. The group performed beneath suspended and lighted letters spelling out the band’s name, complementing the loud, energy-filled room.

“This is a party,” vocalist AC Newman said.

Newman joked with vocalist Neko Case to a response of cheers from the crowd.

“A week night party,” responded Case.

Case smiled to the crowd as the band prepared for the next song.

“Is it a week night? We don’t know because we’re a rock ’n roll band,” Newman said.

The band performed songs such as “Up in the Dark,” a song from their newest album
“Together,” and “The Laws have Changed.”

“I just got into indie music about two years ago,” Bloomington resident Jenn Harmless said. “The New Pornographers were one of the first bands that made me say ‘Oh my god, I love this song.’”

The crowd contained fans that were seeing The New Pornographers for the second and third times. Mike Milvae, a West Lafayette resident, travelled two hours to see The New Pornographers for the third time.

Case, a contributing vocalist to the New Pornographers as well as a solo artist, does not always tour with the band, but was present at Wednesday’s show.

“I listen to Neko Case more than I listen to the New Pornographers,” senior Erin Looper said. “She is an artist I put on repeat until I get absolutely sick of a song.”

The New Pornographers arrived around 1 p.m. and were set up for the show by 4 p.m.
BCT stagehand Fritz Busch said while the setup was more involved because of the amount of members in the band, the crew was prepared.

“With smaller bands sometimes we spend more time setting up because they’re more specific,” he said. “The New Pornographers are a large band that have been together for a while and are a little more comfortable. They seem like a fun group of guys and girls.”

Maarten Bout, the marketing director for the BCT, said he knew the concert would be a success and hopes to have The New Pornographers return.

“It would be wonderful to have them back,” he said.