Broken Social Scene

The Canadian collective, made up of the majority of the Arts & Crafts label, came with more than just a physical presence. For a band that claims as many as 27 members at any given time, through the past few years BSS has risen steadily throughout the indie rock scene where some quartets have fallen apart after one album. My God could they create! So many drummers, guitarists, organ players, and singers coalescing into aural gold; BSS shimmered, soared, and demurely drew the attention of EVERYONE in range of their speaker towers…including the mob of people across the lawn pre-congregating for the festival headliner: the Red Hot Chili Peppers. When it was time for BSS’s set to come to a close they were met with tides of waving hands and audience members pleading for an encore. Their time was up though, and the concert organizers wouldn’t let them continue; the lights flashed and dimmed while every band member bowed, thanking the audience for their support and love. The crowd wanted more though, and when BSS left the stage for good everyone moved around to the side of the stage to continue applauding while those unable to continue to cheer on BSS began booing RHCP. Booing. They booed what festival promoters were calling the “biggest and best band in the world,” and I knew that RHCP couldn’t top the show Broken Social Scene had just given so we left and went home. I wanted to end the weekend on the highest note possible and there’s no way anything could be higher than that. Whoa.