The Concert I Always Forget I Went to
Specific, vivid, denial, and rivers. Brief, and so loving.
— David Bowie + Placebo
During the pandemic, the one band that took over my Spotify was Placebo. Simple all-nighters that would always consist of playing their “Meds” album on loop and being windblown by the sheer dramaticism in their electronic 00s rock vibe. Their 2006 record brewed my simmering obsession with the band, and I needed to understand why I had never heard of them before. Without carrying much of the grunge 90s sound reflected in their debut record with their hit song “Every You Every Me,” Placebo was more experimental and vibrantly cooler than their peers, especially with the unique voice of singer, Brian Molko.
— Brian Molko on a Tumblr post I found.
Now, it is hard to describe my first impression of Brian Molko. In his 90s style, I would call him a visionary with an unexpectedly androgynous output and the careless mannerisms of a rock-front man but introverted in nature. The long black hair, pale skin, makeup, chockers, and gender-neutral outfits were things I didn’t anticipate from Placebo’s sounds but were a welcome surprise. My interest in fashion was peaking at the time, which only made Molko appear cooler to me than the average Gen X adult white male rock singer. Brian Molko’s voice only added to the allure he had as his voice cuts through the records with piercing lyrics…
I quickly decided he was one of the coolest singers from the decade and was appalled that he was not as famous as the mainstream bands of the time. There were barely any YouTube interviews or festival recordings to research through, and it felt personally offensive as Placebo deserved so much more in my eyes.
— Brian Molko in the music video for “Meds," the single from my favorite Placebo album “Meds.”
Stunned by his looks that cemented my interest in the band, his coolness ended up encouraging me to explore other albums. “Without You I’m Nothing” is pretty excellent and much more defining of the OG Placebo sound; “Black Market Music” was okay, not stellar; “Placebo” (1996) was still pretty good for a debut album. But, “Meds” (2006) will forever be my favorite record by Placebo and simply outshines every other project, in my eyes. It could be due to it being my first exposure to the band, but it’s just better. Even the “Meds: B-Sides” outshines its peers.
Fast forward two years, in 2022, they released a new record: “Never Let Me Go.” An album I was specifically enthusiastic about since this 90s band was still releasing music and I refused to believe they would fall under the stereotype (denial is a river). Regardless, it was okay but that isn’t the point. The band had changed, matured, whatever. The difference was announcing a tour. And, radio shows doing ticket giveaways for the Placebo concert happening in LA. As fate would have it, I won the tickets and I went to the concert in 2023.
Preparing consisted of the same routine setlist playlist on Spotify and preparing mentally for the experience. The setlist was shockingly leaning on their latest record with very few of their iconic 90-00s songs… and well, denial is a river and I, a fish, holding onto the stereotype in which LA becomes the city with a unique playlist.
The denial was such a large river, I could have drowned in it and still not realized that the disappointment was incoming. Not only did they play 1 single song from my favorite record, they also did not change the setlist for their LA show, which I had been relying on up to that point. My blind optimism was squashed by simmering disappointment that made me feel like the band had disconnected from its fanbase. Everyone at the show was older than me, and it felt obvious that they grew up listening to Placebo’s older albums and were just as in denial as I was, dancing through the new album.
By the end of their set, they played “Infra-Red” and I became insufferable to everyone around me. Screaming their hits was therapeutic, but it was only two songs I loved and the concert ended with a cover song that people finally decided to sing along to. Three years of obsession with a band disappeared as the lights came back on and we walked back to the car.
— Placebo at the Greek Theater in 2023 (the show I went to) through mxdwn music.
The band is not to blame (obviously). They did not have to play any songs they did not want to play. Call me a fake fan for not loving the setlist and moving on from them after one concert, but it simply did not feel as satisfying as playing their “Meds” album on loop by myself in my room during the pandemic. The euphoria was gone. The dramaticism and coolness were lost through the half-empty, half-quiet arena, and their music felt as stagnant as their presence on stage. The essence of the band was just not there anymore, and denial was pounding in every corner of the venue. I became what I hated: a bitter, middle-aged white dude who complains that his favorite band is not what it used to be. And I hold myself accountable for that disappointment.
I will forever be grateful for the experience and the free tickets. I am glad I got to see them live as concerts and live music tend to be my priority in the experiences I seek. Instead of accepting they had changed, I was in denial once again, but it was simply due to my bitterness of not getting to hear my favorite songs live. As we drove back home after the concert, we played the songs they didn’t play live, and Placebo slowly started drifting away from my Spotify. It wasn’t until recently, when they came up on shuffle, that I realized how long it had been. The one concert I always forget I went to because there was not that much to remember.
Tailoring tour setlists to enhance fan experiences can be tricky for artists. A lot of the time, bands will play their hits since that is what most people want to hear, but even if they do that, some fans complain that they have been playing the same songs for too many years and that the band should switch it up. However, how do you balance hits, new releases, and fan favorites without alienating an audience? Do you have to do a four-hour concert to please all your fans by playing all your ‘eras’? I wouldn’t say so. Because it is such a complex process, it is important for artists to keep their autonomy and choose their indispensable songs. However, as a fan, there are certain iconic hits that, even if overplayed, you just want to experience live, as its part of the artist’s identity and history. “Every You Every Me” will always be famous on my Spotify.
Brian Molko is still the coolest in my eyes though.
Extra:
the song they didn’t play and we were hurt that they didn’t.
they also have a song with David Bowie, as they were friends, and it’s the sickest thing ever. I absolutely love this version of their song:
i will also always be grateful for the concert since that is how I found out about Cold Cave (insane opening act, forever stunned).
thank you for reading <3