Placebo Live Review

Shepherd's Bush Empire, 12 May

How to diversify one of the most distinctive sounds in alt. rock? Simple. Add in saxophones. Although still melancholic, slightly minimal and melodic in an Americanised, squealy way (okay, that's just Brian Molko's vocals), there seems a bit more bravery about Placebo as they get ready to flog 6th album 'Battle For The Sun', which not only sounds heavier, but also features the odd bizarre burst of saxophone - at least here, onstage at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Does it work? Well, it's a really good, performance, with a very receptive crowd and zero sign of a once-legendary Molko strop. So yeah, it works, kinda...

PS And they did a play all the old classics, too. In case you were worried.