The music of Boston-based quartet Neighbor has fostered a tight-knit community of fans, aka “Neighbors.” One of those Neighbors, Michelle Behr, is currently in the hospital after undergoing surgery for a rare type of cancer. Neighbor dedicated Saturday’s show at The Met in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Behr by spelling out “MICHELLE STRONG” with the bulk of the setlist and playing a few songs in her honor.
The four-piece opened with a well-extended version of the poignant “Mighty Apple Tree” and then served up the bluesy “Isla.” Keyboardist Richard “Ricky” James, guitarist Lyle Brewer, bassist Dan Kelly and drummer Dean “Dux” Johnston displayed their penchant for adventrous improvisation on the ensuing “Crashing Down.” From there James led his bandmates through “Hot Air Balloon.” Neighbor then followed their take on Morphine’s “Eleven O’Clock” with an instrumental version of “My Michelle.” The Guns N’ Roses cover was debuted as a tribute to Michelle Behr.
Another special moment came next as Lyle’s young son, Elliot Brewer, joined his dad and the rest of Neighbor for the rollicking “Lonely Rider.” The quartet then took it down a notch with the slow-burning “Love Like Stone” before closing the set with a debut cover of Solomon Burke’s “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love.” The first letter of each song played in the frame, besides “My Michelle,” spelled “MICHELLE.”
Photo of Lyle & Elliot Brewer by Joshua Touster via Neighbor
Neighbor kicked off Saturday’s second set with a 14-minute rendition of the Little Feat classic “Spanish Moon.” The band teased the song and John Williams’ “May The Force Be You” during the exploratory “Terror For Free” that followed. Lyle Brewer then uncorked a stellar solo to bring a cover of “Runnin’ Down A Dream” by Tom Petty to a close. The bluegrass-tinged “On My Wind” was linked with Crescent City ode “New Orleans” next. As fan-favorite “Great Barrier Reef” ended the frame, Neighbor had spelled “STRONG” with the first letter of each song performed in the second set.
Ricky started the encore in Pawtucket by premiering “Mama Behr,” a song written in Michelle Behr’s honor. The rest of the band then reemerged for the debut of a new original entitled “Stay Loose.” Neighbor wrapped up the night and three-song encore with “We Need You,” the last song from their Silver rock opera.
Read a note from Michelle Behr sharing her story posted on the Neighbors Facebook group:
Soundboard Matrix Recording (Taped by Andy Murray)
Setlist
Set One: Mighty Apple Tree, Isla, Crashing Down, Hot Air Balloon, Eleven O’clock -> My Michelle[1], Lonely Rider[2], Love Like Stone, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love[3]
Set Two: Spanish Moon[4], Terror For Free[5], Runnin’ Down a Dream[6], On My Mind > New Orleans, Great Barrier Reef
Encore: Mama Behr[7], Stay Loose[8], We Need You
Footnotes:
- [1] First time played (Guns ‘N Roses). Instrumental.
- [2] Eliot Brewer on guitar.
- [3] First time played (The Blues Brothers). Lonely Rider, Mighty Apple Tree, Planet Silver, and Pine Tree teases.
- [4] Magic Marble Crew tease.
- [5] Spanish Moon (Little Feat) and May The Force Be With You (John Williams) tease.
- [6] Lonely Rider tease.
- [7] Debut. Ricky solo.
- [8] Debut.
