Cauldron

Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: A & E

Media Credit: www.absolutepunk.net BRAND NEW

Brand New took the stage with a small army on Nov. 18 at Warehouse Live. Their usual four-piece (two guitarists, one bassists and a drummer) was supplemented with two additional guitar players, one extra bass player and an extra drummer.

After the opening song, "Limousine," the additional members cleared the stage as Brand New led into a string of songs from their newest album, "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me," released last November.

The album is far more stripped-down and raw than their previous albums and gives off a more intimate vibe, concentrating more on lyrics than sound. It lies somewhere between the pop-rock sound of "Your Favorite Weapon" and the emotionally charged feel of "Deja Entendu."

The stage was decorated to mimic this feel, basic compared to Thrice's set, with just a few background lights and the deserted instruments of the extra band members, who performed intermittently throughout the set.

The extra members returned mid-way through Brand New's set to perform "Millstone," during which frontman Jesse Lacey exchanged his guitar and microphone for a large bass drum, which he beat with fervor.

The band sprinkled the rest of its set with songs from "Deja Entendu" but declined playing any songs from "Your Favorite Weapon."

Lacey seemed emotionally distant throughout the set, failing to engage the audience as Thrice's frontman, Dustin Kensrue, had.

Such a display has been the rule, rather than the exception, at Brand New's shows the past few years. It might seem that this was simply a sentiment reflected towards Houston, but at a show in Austin earlier this year, Lacey failed to acknowledge the crowd even once, except when he was hit with a water bottle.

During that particular incident, he abruptly ended the song, told the crowd that if they were angry with his decision that they could take it up with the individual who decided to throw the bottle and moved on, playing sulkily the rest of the set.

Explanations for this behavior remain hard to find. Brand New's members have declined speaking to members of the press since late 2004. Lacey's lyrics are dark and cryptic, hinting that he is still the emotional crooner he was when Brand New released its first album in 2003, but a more mature version.

Lacey peppers the band's set with negative energy, refusing to play songs off older albums or admitting that they have lost their value to him. It is hard to tell if Lacey is playing troubled artist, or actually is one.

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