I Was There: Echo & The Bunnymen

The Fairfield Theatre Company at the Klien welcomed the 80’s post-punk band to Connecticut for a spectacular and intimate performance. After an impressive opening performance by Kelly Stoltz and a round of his stalker-esque trivia about the band, the group took the stage and immediately killed the lights.

Ian McCulloch, lead vocals, couldn’t get the house shadowy enough as he let go his dark lyrics and sinister chords. Their iconic 80s sound kept its promise by echoing clear and feeling numinous. Breaks in play were filled with short but (generally) love filled heckling from the audience. One fan requested McCulloch take his glasses off, which he kept on the entire performance. Ending his set with fight-hair, a hoodie, sunglasses and a ring of smoke (he went through nearly half a pack during the show) he looked more rock and roll than anyone the audience had ever laid eyes on, off MTV.

The group is best known amongst college-aged listeners for their single The Killing Moon which was on their 1984 CD Ocean Rain. It was also the scene music for the first sequence of the 2001 cult classic Donny Darko (theatrical version). Their first single to make it on a soundtrack was Bring on the Pretty Horses, the final song for John Hughes’ Pretty in Pink. It recently made a comeback on the Hot Tub Time Machine soundtrack.

Bunny-aficionados could be happy to have the chance to see McCulloch back on stage with fellow member Will Sergeant, another of the original Bunnymen. The group reformed in 1997 after a nearly decade long split. Of late, bass player Les Pattinson left the group after their reunion album Evergreen reached success. Most recently McCulloch and Sergeant released The Fountain in 2009.

The band wasn’t the only thing being discussed in the post-show adrenaline jabber. As the admirers spilled into the parking lot revenge was on their tongues. Towards the end of the show a fan, sick of the tongue and cheek exchange McCulloch had with fans, jumped on stage and took a swing. He was immediately crushed under a pile of security, band-mates and roadies.

The group ended the night with covers by The Velvet Underground and James Brown.

-Justine Mann