Chumbawamba Delivers Satisfying, Affecting Show

Concert review Chumbawamba with Alabama3 and Adam Bomb, The Paramount Theatre, last night.

As anarchists go, Chumbawamba may not be the most incendiary, but it's certainly the cutest.

The eight-piece English collective - together for 16 years but virtually unheard of in mainstream markets until its massive hit single "Tubthumping" was released last year - put on a show that had more to do with classic English music hall than guerrilla theater. It was tight and well-rehearsed, and featured a dozen costume changes and music that was more confectionery than combative.

That is purportedly the band's intent: to get out its political message - one that's anti-government, anti-racist, anti-fascist and anti-hate - in a manner that's palatable to the average pop / rock listener.

Demographically, however, the audience wasn't exactly the typical rock-buying ideal (males 14 to 24). The house, barely half full, if that, seemed to have more dads-and-daughters and sons-and-moms combos, with groups of young girls following as the greatest in attendance. Probably because this show was in the safety and sanctity of the Paramount, many of those who came were far younger than those you might see at all-ages shows at DV8, RKCNDY or even the Moore.

But that more than likely pleased Chumbawamba, a company of five men and three women who divided playing, singing and performing chores very democratically.

The root of the show was the band's music and it was very satisfying. Chumbawamba likes big anthemic themes and forlorn trumpet-led marches. But they add full, sweet harmonies and a real sense of drama and dynamics. Most of the material came from the new album "Tubthumper," the best being "Good Ship Lifestyle," "Drip Drip Drip," "Creepy Crawling" and, of course, "Tubthumping."

Two older songs were also very affecting: "Timebomb," which was dedicated to the late 1940s actress and "troublemaker" Frances Farmer (a Washingtonian) and "Homophobia," in which they took gay-bashers to task.