Last night, I watched some pornography and it was great. The New Pornographers, eclectic Vancouver Indie band, rolled into Vancouver to perform the first of two shows at the Vogue Theatre. In no way am I qualified to critique the actual show, having no musical or performance review expertise, but I do feel inclined to comment on the unique characteristics of the band, how they embody community as it’s seen and practiced by many, and why I’m proud they hail from our very own Vancouver, British Columbia.

The New Pornographers, sans Dan (as to be expected)

The New Pornographers formed back in 1997, and have recorded five albums – their latest, ‘Together’, came out in May and is as diverse as ever. What makes the band unique – and what I think adds to their ability to produce distinctive, creative, and innovative music – is the fluid nature of the band: each member is involved in their own musical, theatrical and film projects, many releasing solo albums or collaborating with other artists. Neko Case, who sings vocals with the New Pornographers, is more of a collaborator than an actual firm-standing member – she’s often touring as a solo artist, which led the New Pornographers to bring in a new member, Kathryn Calder, as a live replacement for Case. Dan Bejar heads Destroyer, but he is also one of the New Pornographers vocalists and songwriters. These myriad external influences, interests and experiences can only fuel the creativity of the group, insulating them from producing stale albums that result from band members seeing and experiencing nothing but each other.

This adaptability and independence shone through at the show last night – Case-less, the band showed that they are more than the sum of their parts, that the genius of their music lives beyond the individual band members, and they can rock it despite Case’s absence. Sure, there were missed cues and the beer-drinking, disappearing antics of Dan Bejar, but in a strange sort of way these potential messes made the performance more real and endearing – they sure weren’t perfect, but they are strong and flexible enough as performers and bandmates to take the minor flubs in stride and infuse a sense of fun into the performance. I’m not going to lie – it would have been great to see Niko and hear her amazing vocals, but the show was able – and did – go on with brilliant success.

And now – to expand on my initial assertion about the New Pornographers and how they exemplify community: In any community that hopes to be stable and endure the test of time, whether that be a city, neighborhood, or a smaller community of family or friends, each member needs to be secure enough that they know they can pursue their own interests and goals and always be welcomed back – and valued and respected for what they bring to the group – with open arms. This stable community needs to be flexible and adaptable, and open to change, new ideas and influences.

So, thank-you New Pornographers for teaching us a lesson or two about community, making us proud to call you a Vancouver creation, and showing us a rockin’ good time at the show last night.