▲ Before their presentation, the British band had asked their followers not to take photographs of the stage.Photo Ocesa / César Vicuña
Israel Campos Mondragon
La Jornada Newspaper
Thursday, March 28, 2024, p. 8
The London band Placebo achieved what many tried: a concert without cell phones in their presentation last Tuesday night at the Teatro Metropólitan in the Mexican capital. The warning not to use these devices was given days and minutes before the recital, and those who did not pay attention were scolded by Brian Molko, the group’s vocalist.
Outside the venue located on Independencia Street in the Centro neighborhood, a rock atmosphere was perceived, in which the public dressed in black and arrived up to two hours before the concert began. On the stairs of the theater, the audience wasted no time taking souvenir photos, not knowing that they were the only ones they could take.
Before starting the music, an audio recorded in Spanish by bassist Stefan Olsdal was heard: This is a unique and exact moment that will not be repeated again.
and the chords of Forever Chemicals and Beautiful James, of his most recent material, Never Let Me Go.
As happened on his last visit to the country, Molko introduced himself to the public: “Thank you very much and welcome. “My name is Brian and the name of my rock group is Placebo… We have a lot of noise for you tonight,” said the singer.
Again, the band did not perform their classic songs – such as Special K, Every You and Every Me either This Picture–, and instead they played more songs from their new album, like Happy Birthday In The Sky, that Brian dedicated to his brother in perfect Spanish: The next song is for my brother
.
They continued with Bionic, Twin Demons and Surrounded by Spies, while attendees tried to take a photo pal memory
the theater security prevented them with a light that pointed directly at the cell phone cameras.
Tension in the air
The warning not to record or take photos with the phone was very serious, since Brian Molko at one point noticed a disobedient
who had the device raised, stopped the music and made the lights come on to signal it.
Hey you, the one wearing sunglasses, I’m going to stop the concert because I see several people recording. I seriously asked them not to record. Stop doing it, please. If they continue to do so, they will have to leave. Don’t make me angry again
Molko said.
The audience had no choice but to put away their cell phones and watch the concert as they did in the 90s, before those devices stole human attention. After that incident, tension was felt between the public and the band, which was diluted with the music.
The themes continued Sad White Reggae, Try Better Next Time and Too Many Friends with which calm came. The list of songs was very similar to the one they offered at the Palacio de los Deportes last year, only with one surprise, the song Taste In Men which this time they did include. Placebo ended with Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God).
It is expected that after Metropólitan, the band will travel to the north of the country to perform on Sunday at the Pal Norte Festival.
The pleasant surprise was the opening group Big Special, a duo formed by Joe Hicklin on vocals and Callum Moloney on drums, who made the theater vibrate with their strident music.
