Black Rebel Motorcycle Club leaves an impression

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's true garage-rock talent was on display in Omaha on May 17.

The concert was the first in an outstanding array of late spring and summer concerts at the venue of the night, the Slowdown. Watch the blog for reviews of at least two more coming shows there: Gary Numan and the Buttertones.

BRMC got an assist from opening act Pete International Airport, the Dandy Warhols' guitarist Peter Holmstrom's other band (which is also named after a song off "The Dandy Warhols Come Down"). The band played a brief set before making way for an extensive one from the headliner.

Pete International Airport's latest album, "Safer With the Wolves," features guest vocalists like the Black Angels' Alex Maas and BRMC's Robert Levon Been, who joined the band onstage for "Flowers of Evil."

Been's command of the stage was apparent with the opening act, as well as when his band stormed out with back-to-back songs featuring his vocals. From there, he and Peter Hayes seamlessly traded off vocals, and sometimes bass and guitar.

Throughout 22 songs, BRMC showcased the band's biggest tracks and ones off of its latest album, "Wrong Creatures." Especially enjoyable among the newer tracks were opener "Spook," "Question of Faith," and "Circus Bazooko," which despite the fact that it does sound like circus music, works live.

Despite an often-grungy feel to most of its faster songs, BRMC also manages to sound downright tender on tracks like "Echo" and "All Rise." This incredible range was evident by mid-set, when Been and Hayes each played an acoustic song on their own, "Dirty Old Town" by the Pogues and BRMC's own "Complicated Situation."

BRMC did it all: Been played piano, Hayes smoked a cigarette while playing (and singing), and drummer Leah Shapiro dutifully kept the beat (and also joined Pete International Airport during its set). The band also included in its set list a cover of “Let the Day Begin” by ‘80s band The Call, Been’s late father, Michael’s group.

In a time when musical acts often rely on backing tracks or even offstage musicians, it's refreshing to see a three-piece band with a huge sound playing a small venue with little, if any, help in that department. BRMC put on just that type of impressive show.

Been on piano. All photos by Christopher Windle.