Download: Broadcast (Live at the El Rey Theatre)

Kevin Bronson on
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When Trish Keenan, the Broadcast vocalist, died last week at age 42 from complications of pneumonia, it hit fans of the U.K. band’s dreamy electronica hard. Among those fans were Mark “Frosty” McNeill, Elvin Estela (better known as DJ Nobody) and other leading lights from the Dublab DJ collective, all of whom attended a memorable Broadcast show on Nov. 1, 2000, at the El Rey Theatre in L.A.

It turns out Keenan had allowed McNeill to record the concert directly from the soundboard. After news of Keenan’s death reached him, Estela writes, “I was thrilled when Frosty told me that he had a recording from this night. We listened all weekend after Trish’s passing, remembering how incredible that night had been for all of us. The band is in top-notch form and Trish sounds like an angel. Although it is sad for us that she is a real one now, we are eternally grateful for the music, melodies and invocations she gave us, letting us know her angelic properties before she really had to go.”

Adds Estela: “This concert is one that has always stuck in my memory. As soon as Broadcast came on we knew we were in for the time of our lives. First, they were much louder than we anticipated, and the kick drum along with the bass notes caved my chest in. It was exciting. The band had projections cast on them, which immediately reminded me of the back cover of the first Velvet’s record. Everything was awesome ”“ image, sound, light and bass! The experience was almost a little too much to handle, but in a good way. They stole the show from Godspeed You Black Emperor and left us wanting more, and we made sure to catch them every time they came to town. Although the band impressed us every time, like many things, the first time makes the deepest impression. This show is forever stored in my top shows I have seen by any band.”

McNeill says the recording sat “on our dusty stacks” until he pulled it out this week and remastered it.