Caught the Broken Social Scene show at History on December 17. Was a last-minute decision: I’d seen them at Massey Hall in the spring. That show was amazing—despite the absence of Justin Peroff, who was recovering from an injury; he was replaced by two ringers. I wasn’t sure I needed to see the band again so soon—despite the fact that I hadn’t seen them in 12 years before that. Also: this was billed as an “album” concert where they would run through You Forgot It In People, on its 20th anniversary: this kind of overly nostalgic move isn’t normally my bag. Then again, I just wrote a book that taps into that very nostalgia, so… there I was.
Here’s something I wrote about You Forgot It In People 19 years ago, in Exclaim, for a 2003 year-end piece. You can tell I love the idea of this band more than I love the record itself, although I do love the record:
What is it about this record? It's not necessarily the songs, which with a few exceptions favour sonics over songwriting. It's not the lyrics; vocals are treated texturally, not the dominant instrument in the mix. It's not the musicianship, even though the authoritative finesse of Justin Peroff's drumming, Andrew Whiteman's fiery guitar playing, the textural tactics of Kevin Drew and Charles Spearin, and Brendan Canning's melodic bass lines are all exemplary. It's not the production — because when has great production alone kept you coming back to listen? — even though Dave Neufeld deserves more credit than anyone for the way this record falls into place.
The "it" is the Social Scene itself. The variety that comes with surrendering ego to a musical potlatch. The beauty of community. The belief that we should never settle for a compromised existence when it comes to the things we truly love. The knowledge that the status quo isn't good enough. The ability to carve truths from ambiguous parameters. "It" is textbook Canadian identity politics, really: the expression of individual creative will through the power of a collective.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to That Night in Toronto to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.