REVIEW: Breinholt caputres concert style with new CD
Peter Breinholt and Big Parade are reputably one of the few bands who are even better on stage than in the recording studio.
The band’s latest release, “Live September,” captures the emotion and audience interaction that are trademarks of their concerts. “Live September,” the band’s fourth album, was recorded Sept. 14, 15 and 17 during their annual performance series at the Sundance Theater.
The recording was done in just a few days instead of during the many concerts Peter Breinholt and Big Parade perform to “make it sound like one run of shows,” Breinholt said.
“You hear the introduction to the band, some talking and at the end you can picture us leaving the stage,” he said.
He said the timing was perfect for recording a new album this year.
“I feel I have to do a new album every two to three years to keep things fresh and to keep doing shows. We don’t know how long we’re going to have such an audience base. Now’s the time,” he said.
“Live September” includes the clear, familiar melodies of favorite songs such as “Jerusalem,” “You Wear Flowers” and “Edwin’s Tale – 1862,” as well as previously unreleased songs such as “When August Comes,” and a cover duet of Stevie Nicks’ “Landslide” with musician Nancy Hanson. Between songs the CD includes several clips of dialogue and humor that draw audiences to Breinholt’s concerts and makes them more personal. Breinholt’s 2-year-old son also makes a subtle percussion appearance during the song “Sweetly Sleeps.”
Although the band considers this recording to be a “minor release” because there is very little new material, Breinholt said the subject matter and the work that went into it, made it feel like a major release for them. It was recorded just three days after the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. The band had tentatively canceled the show in honor of the event, but fans requested the show go on.
“I remembered thinking ‘We can’t do this show.’ It turned out to be what we all needed,” Breinholt said. “It turned out to be serendipitous.”
There were last minute modifications made to the set list and concert style, Breinholt said, which also helped to make the audience and band members more comfortable with the situation. They did not mention the events on stage or on the album so as to not date the album, but cracking voices and occasional sniffles speak for themselves.
“The emotions were so close to the surface for everyone that we toned it down. But you could still definitely feel it on the album,” he said.
“Live September” was officially released on Nov. 13, but more than 5,000 copies were reserved ahead of time. Breinholt did not even have his own copy of the CD because people kept asking him for one.
“In the end we were so thrilled. It’s exceeded all our expectations,” Breinholt said.
Peter Breinholt and Big Parade is going to promote the new CD through the Christmas season, then perform at several Olympic venues during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Beyond that, they plan to release a new album of all new material next, and a Christmas album later, he said.
While waiting for the band’s next release or concert date, fans can experience the atmosphere of their concerts with “Live September.” It captures gentle nuances of the band’s stage performances that make the recording much more than a few live songs. It truly is a snapshot from each Peter Breinholt and Big Parade concert.
GRADE: A