By marty

Michael Stipe is apparently a happy man.

In fact, the Athens, Georgia boys were all smiles Saturday night during R.E.M.’s headline performance at the Langerado Music Festival.   The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees roared through a 22-song set that warmed the overflow crowd on an 40+ degree  Everglades night.

Stipe encouraged shivering fans to find someone to “rub up against” and even find a way to add to the Floridian population.  It was sly and sexy and a whole lot of fun.

Taking the stage, the band opened up with the rollicking “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” from the 1994 “Monster” album.  Stipe, wearing a green Obama t-shirt,

prowled the stage as Peter Buck’s jangily guitar rang out.

Download:  What's the Frequency, Kenneth_ [Radio Version].mp3 by R.E.M.

The band rolled on with their set mixing early classics such as “Fall On Me” and “So. Central Rain” with new songs from the upcoming album, “Accelerate,” which is set for release on April 1st.  The Langerado show was the first public airing for the new songs in the finished form.  From the sounds of it, “Accelerate” returns to the late 80s, early 90s form when R.E.M. ruled not only college radio but the rest of the rock world. 

In working its way through its catalogue, the band expertly played its way through the crowd-pleasing hits as “Losing My Religion,” “The One I Love,” and “Man on the Moon,” while including other lesser known gems as “Drive” and “Electrolite.” Michael Mills’ lilting harmonies rounded out the sound.   It was a solid set.

However, the relaxed, joyous mood of the band was palpable.  Stipe’s between songs patter was funny and political at times, but never in an in-your-face style.  Having seen Stipe cycle through his various personas during their 28-year career, from shy frontman garbling his the words, to the angst-filled artist, through the stadium rock god to the make-up wearing antagonist, it was so very satisfying to see him as a confident lead man sure in his place in the world and enjoying it.

The band, as a whole, seems to have finally recovered from drummer Bill Berry’s departure from the group in 1997.  In the past 10 years, R.E.M. have tried to find their sound, their mojo, without their mate.  Largely, with mixed results. 

From the evidence of Saturday’s Langerado show,  R.E.M. have found their sound in a flourish and they feel fine.

MORE LANGERADO REVIEWS COMING IN THE DAYS AHEAD.  STAY TUNED!