The New Pornographers charm Union Transfer with a mix of old and new

You know it’s going to be a wild night at Union Transfer when the crowd is filled with dads. Really, though, an assembly of middle-aged men whistled and cheered before The New Pornographers took stage, presumably in anticipation of seeing Neko Case’s hair in real life. The crowd was mild, at best, during The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, despite some members’ Philadelphia-area roots. But an immediate rush to the stage took place as the opener left, and as the crowd finished their last beer at the bar.

The album art from their August release, Brill Bruisers, hung as a neon backdrop as the pack of performers took their places.  Opening with their spirited title track, The New Pornographers quickly threw back to Challengers with “Myriad Harbour,” as Dan Bejar of Destroyer sang lead. A pattern of new to old songs continued as the crowd was charmed by each note sang by vocalists Newman, Bejar, Case and Calder. A congested Union Transfer was teeming with hundreds of indie rock fans for a solid 90-minute set from the Canadian rock icons.