Placebo played a triumphant show to a packed house at the Fillmore Silver Spring last Thursday evening and the band proved once more that they have the staying power to span multiple generations—and musical climates.
Formed in 1994 in London, Placebo were particularly well received all throughout Europe and eventually bled their way to the airwaves in the States, offering some relief from our musical crisis of creativity at the time—and they sound fresh even now.
Placebo uniquely utilizes elements of electronic music combined with explosive guitar parts and harmonic vocals which has garnered the band an almost cult-like following. At their show on Thursday the band was on top of their game and even sounded invigorated.
With his signature voice and unmistakable presence, frontman Brian Molko reeled off thick, fuzzy guitar parts that buzzed like relentless chainsaws. Backed by the bass, drums, violin, and keyboards, Placebo played a nearly one and a half hour set and Molko was a humble and gracious host for the evening, thanking the crowd repeatedly for their continued support. From the show’s beginning to the end, the band had the crowd clapping their hands in unison during every song of the night, classics and newer material from their 2013 release, Loud Like Love.
Twenty years on, Placebo continues to embrace its history while capturing new converts.
