Broken Bells

We rarely go to live shows anymore, but having missed ever seeing The Shins perform live we seized the opportunity to see this Broken Bells show at the Orpheum. It was perfect. They were amazing! Merrcer's voice is even better live than on record.... enveloped the venue beautifully! The stageshow rocked as well -- the entire band nailed it!!

Great concert in an accessible venue with good acoustics.

I drove over 16 hours round trip for this, I was the first person in line, as well as front row and center stage. I've seen well over 500 bands and this is ranked #2 on my list. Amazing is an understatement.

Besides me "LOVING THIS BAND" because I took the initiative of listening to new sounds one day, I could never tell that their show would be such a breath take energy. Some of the integrands of the band are just energy givers! Jumping in the stage even when the song wasn't that fast! I loveeeeeed how they are very interactive, speacilly when they keep changing places when playing INUMEROUS instruments! Such a trippin' band!!!! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!! will remember it forever!! OHhhhh yeahhhh PS: I GOT JAMES MERCER'S PICKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was just everything!!!! Love you guys! BROKEN BELLS S2

Broken Bells rocked. It was really fascinating to watch Mercer and Burton's different personalities play out on stage. The crowd was into it. The drinks were great. I love the Terminal 5 space- big but not impersonal.

The music was incredible live (at some points even better than they were recorded) but they didn't know how to work the crowd. Most of the time everyone was standing around when we could have been dancing, singing along, clapping our hands, etc. As such, it felt like at times I was paying $30 a ticket to listen to Broken Bells on shuffle on my iPod, with a couple of new songs added in from time to time. The energy was there, as was the talent and the venue, but the band needed to go the extra two steps and PERFORM.

They were great and put on a superb show! Only criticism I would have was that there was way too much bass in the mix, it reverberated throughout the venue....

They were really good. And really load. Opening band was pretty boring.

Another great show at Terminal 5. James and Brian make a fascinating team and their abundant talent is evident in the complexity and precision of the songwriting. Despite being a so-called studio band, the live sound was full and polished. The new songs were promising as well.

Great show, great sound quality despite a packed house.

Amidst their flannel shirts and timid talks in between songs, their voices took over Terminal 5. Their harmony was in perfect sync and their solos were beyond amazing. Brian (I think that's his name from Danger Mouse) would change instruments in between songs about 2-3 times, which made the band even that much more dynamic and fun. I can't wait for album two and the 2nd tour around the states.

Drove from Indiana to see Broken Bells in NYC. It was completely worth it. It was amazing show. Love hearing two new songs. cant wait for the album. I am big fan of Danger mouse and seeing him was amazing.

Amaaazing! Great sound. The crowd loved it. Could not have asked for more!

The concert was great, Sold out so it was crowded. My only complaint is that they played for only an hour and then came back for a 2 song encore. I do understand that they only have one album but they should have had a better opening band.

Okay, we didn't drive, I flew in to celebrate my bday weekend w/o the kids. Was looking forward to a grown up night at the Fox Theater after hearing from others that it is one of the best venues to attend a show. Thought it was cool that the opening act was a part of the marquis show. My husband and I instantly liked Broken Bells because of their diverse sound within a song as well as between songs. Absolutely loved the opening song and sounds andof course the more familiar tunes--sorry guys, can't get to the itunes cash before my kids clean out the accounts to load more songs to my ipod--though our boys like you lots too. So not knowing all the songs we sat back to enjoy the show. It seemed though all the unique sounds started to meld into one. The show was simply too loud. I spent most of the show covering my ears. As a mother of four teenage boys I value the 'eyes-behind-my-head' and had to guard my hearing as much as possible. Our ears are still ringing 2 days later. As I told my 16yr old what he missed, he told me there is no such thing as too loud at a concert, perhaps I am just getting old, but that was the only bummer for us, otherwise everything else was great. I loved how one song went into the next, there was little to no talking, light show and video screen was just right and loved the use of the brass too! Everyone was right, the Fox Theater is a great venue for Broken Bells--before, during and after the show. Would love to have you come to Boise, just guard your master volume key when you get there!

The base was SO over-amped that it was painful. I was just glad that Mr. Mercer was on the stage and not in the audience so he couldn't hear how bad it was. I love the album but this show was horrible.

This band is awesome. It's unfortunate the sound was so bad. There was so much bass you could feel your chest pounding. Plus it was muffled. Perhaps it was our location? Will give Fox Theatre another try to see if it is just bad acoustics. Definitely recommend buying Broken Bells CD's and following this band as am sure more good music is to come from this very talented collaboration..

Wow, you want an amazing show with amazing music and an amazing light show? Check out Broken Bells. If you haven't heard them already, their music blends together a sort of trance style with some awesome beats and melodies. Live, it's even better =]

the concert was clean and perfect. James Mercer and Danger Mouse were so modest and everything sounded perfect.

Bass was too loud at the Fox and the vocals where muted. Broken Bells were too reminiscent of the Shins. Personal style lacked.

Beautiful venue, great performance, many bars, clean!

loved BB at the Fox. The Fox often has crappy sound but this classy outfit had an awesome system, of course, and they played all their songs from the one record and a couple cool covers.

The Albumn is a masterpiece...one of my favorite in the past decade. So it is hard to live up to that on a live stage. The BBs are musical geniuses however they are not performers. You rarely find a musical excellence and performance in the same package. I have seen so may musicians that are not interesting to watch on stage...the do not perform. That is fine. I think the sound guy gets failing Marks. I have heard othe shows at the Fox and they sound is usually excellent. There was way too much distortion and reverb. I think they were feeding it back at times. The sound was poor. I was up front and had to move to the back of the theater to minimize the poor effect. The sound guy ruined my experience. The Fox-Oakland is my favorite music venue in the Bay Area...gorgeous old theater. If you worship the album the way that I do, then don't see these guys live. It will dampen your appreciation for the albumn.

It's an unfortunate contrast when the house sound engineer is either unfamiliar with a bands material or perhaps the Oakland Fox sound system. That's the only reason I can figure as to why the subtle and complex dynamics of Broken Bells was completely lost. Instead of being drawn in to the gems of a shy friend sharing tender moments, I was forced to defend myself against boulders of sound (and occasional feedback) being thrown my way. It was fight or flight. There was a moment when I thought I should fight back, even if it was just a request from the manager to reimburse the money spent on tickets. But in the end we chose to run out early. //

This is one of the best performances I have seen in a long time. The way these guys filled the theater with their sound was far beyond my expectations. There were 8 guys making up the band, and they toatlly kicked ass.

The sound was simply far too loud and distorted. I don't get why this would be the case.

The album is great, both these guys are pros, and its at the wiltern. I know the show hasn't happened yet, but I'm calling it now....this will be an awesome show. now I just need to figure out tix. And a babysitter.

Phantogram was great to a packed house. Broken Bells was outstanding, playing older and newer songs, to a less crowded audience. Would see both again!

Excellent double bill, musicianship and sound. Just a great show

My friends and I will never forget this show. It was truly amazing, and the talent this band displays is one for the books. If you ever have the chance to see them play, I highly recommend going to one of their concerts. You won't regret it!

i spelled hitz with a z to show not only that I'm clever but also I'm over using grammar and spelling to convey my ideas concisely.

Went in to this concert already hesitant on seeing Broken Bells live because lets face it, this is great background music or in-general music.... but live....? My main reason for seeing this concert was for Phantogram and even to this minute, I am still surprised that THEY weren't the headliner over Broken Bells. Oh well. The Phantogram set was is now in my top five concerts of all time. Loved the energy, the venue, the crowd, the temperature.... it was just rad. Doesn't help that Phantogram is in my top five bands for the last few years so.... Broken Bells wasn't.. "bad" to see live, it was just simply, boring. The typical background video fodder, basic stage art and minimalistic lighting just made for a yawn and a slight head bob as I made it through 4 or 5 songs before leaning in to my wife and wispering "I think I can leave now".

Phantogram killed the opening act, without a doubt. They were energetic, her voice is amazing and their set was perfect. Broken bells honestly was kind of a disappointment. Their songs started to sound the same and I feel like they could've been more enthusiastic. Overall though, I would do it all over again without a doubt!!

I came to this concert to see Phantogram. I thought is was overall a awesome production but too short. Venue was great. I ditched after Phantogram went offstage so I cant say how Broken Bells was.

going down to Austin to catch them again at Austin city limits

I took my boyfriend to see the Broken Bells show for his birthday since he is a HUGE "holding on for life" fan. They performed the entire album and the visuals were excellent. We were only familiar with a few songs, but after hearing some of the songs live it definately made us fall in love with the entire album. The venue was intimate and we even sat behind Danger Mouse's proud dad and family! Crowd was very engaged and this excellent show made it the perfect night for us both. Even if you aren't very familiar with them, GO SEE BROKEN BELLS!

Danger Mouse and James Mercer are two great composers of music of our time. Their arrangement and production of preformance and presentation come together to create an absolutely amazing experience.

The visuals were much better than expected, and choosing Hamilton Leithauser to lead in was smart. They're music could have gone off worse than it did with their unique instrumentation, and especially in an outdoor venue... no such difficulty.

Everything was good, except the vocals. The vocals were unclear.

Such a great performance!! I took a friend and she became a huge fan after seeing them live. I will definitely see them again!

Broken Bells were so entertaining--- so glad I caught them!

The band was stellar. They sounded just like the album. Also, their show behind them with the lights and pictures was mesmerizing.

Broken Bells was so amazing! Good crowd, amazing performance. Definitely recommend to everyone.

Fantastic show! If you get a chance to see Broken Bells take it, great music that translates very well live and the shows visuals are simple but effective and impressive.

Broken Bells at the Ryman is my favorite show so far this year. You can't do better than James Mercer haunting up an old church with his angelic choir boy pitches laced with some Brian Burton chain clanging beats. Rhythmically enchanting, yet powerful- the show was truly amazing. The visual effects added to the complete ambiance of a great evening. Was in awe of true musical genus.

there's no question why these guys are leading the industry. top notch musicians, vocalists and a great visual show too. high energy all the way through. great show in every way!

While James Mercer (of The Shins) and Brian Burton a/k/a Modest Mouse have only a limited number of recorded tracks from which to pull (two albums in); these guys and the skilled band made the most of each and every song. It may have been an evening of album tracks but when you have tracks as excellent as this...they all feel like hits. The production values, perfect lighting with cool visuals projected behind them, added to an evening already packed with fantastic, intelligent music. Broken Bells delivered!

Awesome show - first time seeing them and they certainly didn't disappoint. The venue was also perfect on a summery, early fall evening.

They sounded amazing! Not only did they play a huge amount of songs from both albums and the EP, but the lights/digital effects were unbelievable!

the sound was perfect - the stage was awesome and the lighting was perfect for the type of music that is BROKEN BELLS :)

Unfortunately, for a band that has great talent and plenty of great music (other than a one-hit-wonder) to offer in today's inadequate music arena, I wish I had not attended this concert. I looked so forward to seeing a great performance, and it turned out to be a race-through-the-music, blending one song into the next, for the first set, which only showed how similar their songs are; followed by a staged walk off of the members. Yes, they did come back. They lacked interaction with the audience and didn't seem to care; hurry up and get it done with approach, as this is not a great turn-out. It left a rather hollow feeling, like something is lacking. They're mistake is that if they actually related to the audience (which even bad bands are able to do), their fan base would actually grow. Had I not have attended their performance, I would have continued that idealistic view of just how great they were to me personally. But I needed to attend to find that out.

Broken Bells played an unreal show. They sounded great and played nearly all their hits. The only negative was that the show was too short (they played for about an hour and a half), but that was expected for a band with only 2 albums.

James Mercer's voice is unwavering. Always sounding as good on stage as in the studio. Nails it every time. Brian Burton compliments him beautifully in all 3 offerings. Both drummer and lead guitar round out the band perfectly. Kudos to their sound people. Being able to feel the drums and bass back on the top seats of the bleachers was great! The sound was punchy but no so my ears rung like so many amateur bands who are supposed pros. Great opening act, btw. He grows on ya. Best of luck to you both and keep it coming!

Great venue and show! Perfect place to see a concert!

Third time seeing Broken Bells, they continue to deliver; great show!

I had never been to Rumsey Playhouse in NYC, so I didn't know what to expect. The weather was perfect; it had rained the previous day, but aside from some residual dampness on the ground cover (in case you want to sit there's a thin, green industrial-type cover), everything was fine. The acoustics were AMAZING. The band played just about every song we all know and love, so I was thrilled. It's very cool how the musicians all switch instruments. They're all so talented. I only wish I had chatted with one of the guys before the show. (Not sure of his name, but he is not one of the main two chaps.) This guy from the band was just walking around the area before Broken Bells went on. I wasn't sure if he was, in fact, in the band, so I didn't approach him. But later on I knew it had been him. Darn! Missed a photo op! On a different note, there was a decent selection of food/drink to purchase. I had the best slice of pizza EVER from a mobile pizza-making operation called PizzaMoto. OMG. It was soooo fresh and worth the five bucks I paid. The beer from City Winery didn't taste good to me. I find them a little pricey, too. Perhaps wine would have been the better choice. All in all, it was a beautiful night. The early start meant I didn't have to go crazy and rush down to Penn Station to catch my train afterwards. I had time to spare. I'll do this again when the opportunity arises.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was completely blown away by the performance. James Mercer has a great singing voice live, and I enjoyed myself even more than I expected to.

This show was incredible! It's always nice when a band you love performs well live but damn, they knocked it out of the park. The background imagery and props were just enough and kept the focus on the band. Couldn't have asked for a better time. Loved it!

Absolutely LOVED the show. Broken Bells sound was absolute perfection. Great stage set up, also! We would definitely go see them again.

The concert went above and beyond what I expected. They used an incredible projector show with amazing graphics that really brought the music to life. Plus the added effect of them standing in front of the projector making their shadows seem larger than life was really neat. James Mercer and Danger Mouse are two unforgettable performers, definitely left a lasting impression. Their back-up band members were extremely talented as well. Best concert I've seen in a long time.

They are definitely a band that sounds so full of life and emotion when playing live. If you think a song like Perfect World is depressing on its own (which I do lol), then you should hear the emotion in Mercer's voice during the live performance. I was already sobbing before the song even ended, and that was just the opening piece! That and they played some sick background imagery that matched each song - much more eye-candy than a bland stage with different lights. Also, they played *nearly every song* on both their debut and sophomore album. :) My only complaint is that they were unable to stick around for autographs, photos, or even simple hugs; they vanished once they wrapped up the three-song encore. I've been waiting since their debut in 2009 to see them live and catch at least a hug from Mercer, so this was extremely disappointing. Considering I've seen a single popular band four times and only once they had to leave immediately due to venue rules, I do hope this is a part of Humphreys' rules and not that BB just decided to take off... :(

Great live act. Mercer's vocal range is incredible. Glad I could see them live without having to give up my first born to see them at Coachella.

Great show from the theatre to the stage setup. The acoustics were very good and the Broken Bells were outstanding!

We saw Broken Bells at the historic Civic Theatre in New Orleans. We chose to buy standing room only floor tickets and were able to be the first ones near the stage. It was an unforgettable experience. The quality of the music and vocals were top notch and sounded just as good as the record. Highly recommend seeing this group.

I've been a fan for a while, but this was my first time seeing them live. James Mercer's voice was amazing! The show was sonically and visually beautiful. Great show!

Broken Bells is amazing. We saw them 2.5 years ago when they played at Terminal 5 and they were awesome then. The different members were still great to watch also. Au Revoir Simone opened. Though my wife and I didn't find their songs on iTunes very appealing, they put on a great show and definitely got the crowd going. Broken Bells is on my very short list of bands I will pay to see every time they are around.

I went in expecting a more subdued show after reading the reviews in here and was completely blown away at how much that was not the case. These men are amazing musicians and put on an unforgettable show. I hope they continue to work together as I'd really love to see them again. They played the entire album plus a few extras, including a beautiful Neil Young cover. The bass was something else, my ears were ringing for 24 hours straight! Happy to lose my hearing for this though:) I'll see these guys every time they come through. I hope since this is Mercer's home town that we will be seeing them again soon.

I really liked Broken Bells performance (although the crowd there left something to be desired). I was SOOOO glad they played song that isn't on album. Great, great, great. Opening band was not my cup of tea, but .... you'll have this. Had a great time!

Torn from the ingenious notebook of Brain Burton, aka Danger Mouse & The Shins James Mercer, The Broken Bells stage was purely a white sheet backdrop with projected images on a graph-paper. It was like watching an experiment come to life. Listening to the album, you would think they were just a studio creation but their show comprised of 7 musicians with Danger Mouse wearing many hats - drummer, keyboardist & guitarist at various points throughout the show simply left the crowd entranced in their dreamy pop psychedelic tunes. The show unfolded like their 2010 self-entitled album on shuffle but has the show progressed some new darker, more edgier tunes emerged, maybe a hint at a possible 2nd album\u2026.hopefully :) That would be a rarity for Danger Mouse considering he doesn t like to repeat himself. Of all his many collaborations, his pairing with Cee-Lo Green to create Gnarls Barkley is the only one that has yielded a 2nd album. Broken Bells set was complete but the fans wanted more. Their encore was a jam session, which included a Black Keys cover of Everlasting Light . The whole show was a journey in sound. Not a person show-boating but a group of talented people coming together to entertain the masses by simply doing what they love to do, creating art.

These guys are awesome. They play so well together and they just played so damn good. The venue was small enough that no where was a bad seat but we got in early and got right up to the front row. They played all the songs from their album and then some. Great chemistry, great sound, just good stuff.

I was not too familiar with Broken Bells' band members previous musical forays but I did like their ITunes release "The High Road" late last year. Broken Bells consist of James Mercer and Brian Burton and were accompanied by several backup players. Their music was infectious from the first song! With harmonious guitars and vocals Broken Bells creates a melodic sound that kept the audience in a musical hypnotic state.

My girlfriend and I were first in line! Wicked awesome show!

This is the second time I have seen Broken Bells and my first time at the new Masonic Theatre in San Francisco. The stage design was nearly identical to the first time that I saw Broken Bells earlier this year but that didn't matter because their performance was somehow even better than the first, which is saying something. Danger Mouse and James Mercer are amazing song writers and click very well together. Their drummer and second guitar were a great addition to their duo. I believe this was their last show after a year of touring and they still put in the effort to sound amazing. They ended the show with some confetti, which I don't remember from the previous show. That was nice.

My husband and I were lucky enough to see Broken Bells in the spring at Humphreys in San Diego which is a small outdoor venue on the bay and they were so totally great that I did not hesitate to buy tickets for the show in LA. Unfortunately, I forgot that my husband would be out of town that weekend. I have exactly 2 good friends that I trust would not to damper, in any way, shape or form, such an awesome evening and neither could go. So instead of looking for someone else to come along, I decided to go stag. Did I feel like an asshole? Yep - I kind of did. Up until the lights dimmed and they began playing Perfect World at which time I didn't care about anything other than being there. They are so amazing! Both times I've seen them I actually felt sort of privileged to be there, like I was witnessing something completely extraordinary. I bet that the first time Brian Burton and James Mercer met, actual sparks flew when they shook hands. If you get the chance, go see them! I know I will - every single chance I get.

The band sounded fantastic! Plus the lightning and slides that they showed added to the experience. They played all of my favorite songs too! Terrific experience!!

Some bands rely on big visuals, grand intros/outros, and big jam sessions to put on an impressive show. Broken Bells need only sit back, play their songs the way they were written, and let their masterful song-writing and arranging take center-stage. It was very clear that all four stage musicans are very talented fellows, and they executed the setlist with perfection. All the subtleties of Mercer's and Mouse's writing, production, and arrangement shined through their performance. It was great hearing very good music played the right way.

Broken Bells were absolutely amazing! The Orpheum is a stunningly beautiful venue and the sound was perfect. They brought the full crew...horns, backup singers, etc., which was awesome. Great set with good energy! My husband and I really enjoyed the opening band, Austra, as well.

This band never disappoints. They're gifted and versatile musicians with an interesting and unique sound. I also appreciate that they bring a LOT of sound to the stage, and a lot of additional musical voices - 4 singers, and at times, 4 horn players. The concert was chill - good energy but not frantic. James Mercer has a gorgeous, clear sound and a lot of heart. I'd see this group anytime they come to Los Angeles.

We attended the Broken Bells concert on October 25th. It was a great concert. Broken Bells was wonderful to listen to and the staging was a lot of fun. It took the music to another level. Also, the Orpheum Theater is a gem in Southern California. It is an old style theater. We were in the balcony and had no problem seeing everything.

The show was fantastic! The acoustics are phenomenal in the venue but the sound mixer/audio team knew how to use the acoustics to the audience's delight. Everyone on the floor stood up from their seats, danced and moved to the music. This is a rare at most Los Angeles concerts. Bravo Broken Bells.... until next time!!

Great show. Sound was amazing. And the opening act was fantastic.

I love the Broken Bells. They did not disappoint. James Mercer has one of the best voices of all tiime. Every moment was a experiance that i will not forget. The theatre was beautiful, perfect for their music. I wish I could do it all over again.

We got tickets spur of the moment and it was such a great decision!! I love Broken Bells and listen to them all the time, but had NO IDEA how amazing they would sound in concert. The backdrops were beautiful, the sound was great, and the band is so insanely talented. LOVED IT!!!

I feel privileged to have attended such an incredible concert. James Mercer, Danger Mouse and their band mates were spot on in their performance. Not too many bells (no pun intended) or whistles required, their talents spoke for themselves. James Mercer's voice...wow. Excellent venue, beautiful evening.

They sounded great!!!!!!!!! It was at The Orpheum Theater which i'd never been there before, the place was homey, beautiful, intimate. Broken Bells came back out for encore and sang all the songs I love, I didn't sit once

Broken Bells played a tight, succinct set at the Orpheum Theater Friday Oct. 24. The sound was as good as you would expect with a producer performing on the stage and the musicians were talented. The Orpheum is beautiful and the accoustics are fantastic. I highly recommend the venue. We all had a great time.

What a way to start off an ACL weekend! This concert was fantastic! I can't wait to catch them again!

Great music, stage had a very cool design, and the colored balloons at the end were unforgettable. First time I see them: I was very happy. Thanks!

I knew this would be a great show, but I didn't expect to get this visual treat! Set and lighting were noticeably well designed. Bravo!!!

I knew it would be. An amazing performance by Broken Bells. I would see them over and over again.

Fantastic gig. James Mercer's voice was terrific. Danger Mouse brings depth. Looking forward to see them live again.

The band was awesome, the crowd was relaxed. My 11-year old daughter is still raving.

Great show, they played pretty much every song they've ever released. The visuals were amazing, brought the music to a whole new level

Broken Bells show was wonderful - the band that played first, the Cayacos, were good too! But the lighting, sounds, acoustics, and vibe of the whole concert was great. I'm so glad I was able to attend.

My 2nd time seeing them and it was even better than the first. With a new album out and more material to cover they had a fantastic set list. The sound was perfect and the lighting was great. I had high expectations heading into the show and they absolutely lived up to them. The crowd was loud and really created a good vibe. So glad they chose State Theater this time around!!

As much as I wish Danger Mouse would speak during the show, I have yet to see it. This is the second time we have seen the group in Minneapolis, and they did not disappoint!

lead vocalist really did a fantastic job. I can't believe he can sing that way without losing his voice. Was a great concert and visual show! My only complaint was that someone down front decided that we should all stand up for the entire concert. If I had wanted to do that I would have gone to First Avenue or some other venue that expects you to stand. Sound was great, though really hard to see with everyone standing

Had balcony seats for the show and was really impressed by how well we could see the stage, sound was great, lights production was great! Love Broken Bells so the whole thing was amazing! :)

Best show I've seen for a long time! Hope they come back again sooner than later!

Danger Mouse is a genius. Best producer/artist/musician since Ricky Rubin. He might be able to make Miley Cyrus sound good. Show got in my soul!