Broken Bells - The High Road (Live on KEXP)

KEXP.ORG presents Broken Bells performing "The High Road" live in the KEXP studio. Recorded August 12, 2014.
Host: Cheryl Waters
Audio Engineer: Julian Martlew
Audio Mixer: Kennie Takahashi
Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Shelly Corbett & Jenna Pool
Video Editor: Jim Beckmann
photo thumbnail by Dave Lichterman
kexp.org
www.brokenbells...

[@filipeaugustodaniel7131]

This is the kind of song that opens a portal to a new dimension.

[@JupiterSlim]

It’s just so good

[@kbishop2860]

This song can fit in on any playlist.

[@quebueno8822]

Anyone else found this song thanks to Bill Burr’s podcast?

[@ajax1736]

@@quebueno8822 He just had it on his outro today

[@quebueno8822]

@@ajax1736 Mr red tits getting a bit lazy theere

[@ayushsinghal2480]

Weed

[@lvbuckeye]

How can something so tragic be so beautiful?

[@anomalees]

How can something so sullen be so sublime? 🎸.

[@hermajestyjenn7928]

It’s a song about transformation. ❤

[@sarahclifford9568]

I can't believe this song is that old and still not played on mainstream radio ❤from Ireland

[@Li-rm2gj]

Yes it’s a crime how under appreciated it is. They’re “unsung” heroes. I’ll see myself out.

[@MaiPoirot]

I can't believe how this live sounds so flawless, it's addictive. Edit: every time I listen to this song, I pay attention specifically to one instrument.

[@leonduarte8341]

I have to agree with u.. this song is really amazing

[@idn]

James Mercer is a musical champion.

[@chelsea14379]

And a musical genius

[@brucewayne3602]

AYE !!!

[@mattymaze4088]

Amen!

[@armandoarciniega1462]

I’m from the future and went back in time to look for phenomenal music… mission accomplished!

[@AzariahMins]

The melody of the verse is so beautiful.

[@freddyboombatz]

My wife bought me this CD years ago and I fell in love with it.

[@johnnyscoundrel1]

The slight change in lyrics is not only amazing, it's genius!

[@coldude09]

I just can't stop listening to this song!

[@chris_jorge]

Why have I not heard this masterpiece before !!

[@SirThirdFilms]

Welcome

[@Erin-uz2gf]

It took me 12 years to find it! lol....I had no idea what it was called or who sang it, having only heard it randomly over the years. It's haunted me all of those years, just beautiful. The entire album is fantastic too.

[@sarahclifford9568]

Bcos mainstream media pumps out generic shite and doesn't give these actual musicians a chance

[@cameronhile6703]

@@Erin-uz2gf This happened to me too.

[@protoman2134]

It wasn’t the right time :.)

[@emmanuelgmz77]

One of the most underrated band ever. Great performance! Greetings from 🇲🇽

[@RB-oz1mm]

Love the produced track - but this live recording is exquisite for the change in tempo and gorgeous harmonies. Well done! Thanks KEXP.

[@dogsigh]

repeat, James your hard work (passion) is not unnoticed

[@franckbourdonnec2829]

Love the song. I have a very short list write on paper (to remember after first ear). -Anna Terhheim - What have I done -Moriarty - Jimmy -Hailay Westenra - Scarborough Fair -Emiliana Torini - Gun

[@danielhicks4040]

Great song. Broken Bells is amazing

[@sarahclifford9568]

So underrated unfortunately ❤

[@darrenmcmackin330]

My God that's so good.

[@pascalevaillancourt100]

Can't get enough of this song!

[@university89]

wow!!! just the same quality as the studio-recorded album! keep up the good work guys.

[@Timmos85]

this is so good, almost can't believe it's live

[@actthree7810]

Exquisite

[@Bruno-po1iv]

KEXP, you guys are Awesome!!

[@erichwashausen4602]

I could watch Danger Mouse play all day, the man is like a drum machine.

[@karleyyork9001]

Pure Brilliance.

[@Miserableplace]

My God... this is perfect.

[@peekukthefrog]

Love this song!

[@koriebethbrown5162]

Love this band. Excited about the new album!

[@crochet937]

❤ My parakeets love this song! ❤ I know it's supposed to be sad, but birds don't care.

[@adrianhugo5021]

This is pure quality...here in ecuador 🇪🇨 we Love you broken bells... hope sometime we can see you ❤️

[@amadeokomnenus1414]

Outstanding!

[@MrVebop]

one of the best albums 2014 Great band !

[@Tom-lq6nn]

KEXP does a great job with all their videos.

[@willfromyadkinville]

WOW!

[@daveco1270]

This guy writes the best songs.

[@rodriguezelfeliz4623]

Guys

[@JupiterSlim]

Holy shit they sound just as good live

[@Jean_loop]

this band is fulfillness and desolation at tje same time ....aaaaaa

[@mdkgr]

I feel somehow similar too, a bit of sad, kind of optimistic but pessimistic at the same time - like if each feeling negates each other.

[@starpwr78]

this is an amazing performance of music that almost has to be produced in a recording studio. broken bells are awesome.

[@susyma7]

❤amazing voice

[@hermajestyjenn7928]

I love this version. It’s my favorite ❤😊

[@thistime1483]

Amazing singer.

[@captainzappbrannagan]

Amazing. Love the remasters and live stuff, this one is better than the original hope it gets into playlists so it can be re-discovered.

[@tenajyak]

brilliant and astonishing

[@yoana7870]

Amazing song

[@brandonhendrixson2372]

Dig this song

[@jorgeacevedopina8870]

KEXP! You guys totally rock.

[@brantlarson421]

James has amazing voice control

[@agsurfer2532]

Great song- outstanding performance!

[@Pobrejogand]

love this song

[@stephenhagan6648]

Awesome band fantastic live👍🏼

[@garyfearon2527]

I was stuck for music on a long drive home about 10 years ago. The garage was all outta mixmags so I had to lift NME mag. This was on the cover cd along with juinip - in the line of fire. Can't remember any of the other songs..... probably because I thought they were shit .

[@jackiebushable]

Excellent ❤

[@dantaylor1173]

Excellent

[@markdoell1834]

Super dope

[@chorizobrain]

wow this is great!

[@deljay1840]

danger mouse is so talented

[@jensby01]

Awesome !!!

[@Bearded_cowboy]

Best of the best 👍

[@TheONE10X]

It's incredible to me at 45, three times divorced, to recently realize Rock N' Roll has been warning me of the perniciousness and cruelty of modern women my entire life. All of these songs are like an official record and road map to where we are today

[@JaneNayes]

maybe you should get to know them better before you marry them

[@TheONE10X]

@@JaneNayes says the person who knows nothing about me. Oh the irony

[@JaneNayes]

@@TheONE10X Where is the irony? You just stated you had multiple failed marriages so that tells me a lot about you. Either you choose the wrong women or you're the problem?

[@MrSandman9151]

I love this song, listened to it hundreds of times. And yet every time I hear the drums in the beginning, I instinctively think that the bass is going to drop and Slow Nerve Action by the Flmaing Lips is going to play.

[@anelimTS]

uncanny omg, love it

[@Flyingbull99]

Bravo 👏!

[@JorgeOrtega-pe8cg]

A great jam

[@aqult]

80% Kevin Spacey

[@alexv3357]

And about 20% my math professor

[@davidchapman6504]

Christ, I hope not.

[@rumblefish9]

This comment did not age well.

[@filipemlribeiro]

@@rumblefish9 Spacey likes them not aged at all.

[@stellamarismorgalo3599]

Very cool

[@Loulou-eo6xf]

Tres bon

[@pharlap12]

The lead singer looks just like the lead singer from The Shins Coincidence? I think not.

[@mosscarpetart]

+Paul Tandy You're right, not a coincidence. They are the same person.

[@Ashnno]

He is the singer from The Shins :P

[@zachcarpenter1171]

no dip

[@Streetysuperduper]

Paul Tandy wow. Which rock do you live under?

[@Dlogreen]

people don't get sarcasm well on the interwebs huh? lol

[@Li-rm2gj]

This is cool, but I’m still attached to the magical studio version. Anyone know who did the production work for it!

[@mahellsy]

Simplesmente foda

[@filadelfonsilveira6488]

Também acho

[@mahellsy]

@@filadelfonsilveira6488ae te que fim um BR

[@foxxracer1]

Why does this drummer look like he's hearing the song for the first time and can't decide if he likes it.

[@TG-fn2ri]

Adam T. Wolf I am gasping for air --- that is the funniest comment! He really does look like he's going back and forth on that or as if he's going "hmmmmmm ... you know, I've never noticed how much the guitar in this spot sounds like that one Tom Petty song. You know, Sam Smith was smart in settling right away..."

[@mercurygrrrl]

+Adam T. Wolf HA!!!

[@josephwasileski4204]

That's Danger Mouse. He is probably making sure it's sounding ok. But those eyebrows are out of control.

[@mastodon0124]

+Adam T. Wolf hahahahahaha

[@allysehueymusic]

+Joseph Wasileski so glad you commented on the eyebrows

[@Ciscokidcapo]

Lovin dangermouses face

[@onesmartdame6143]

MMMMMMMMMMM It;s a great song

[@dalevalido5089]

Live dosent cut it i prefer the studio version

[@gregsonic]

Blasphemy or not : I'd like to hear Broken Bells play Shins catalogue

[@sabinefrank1061]

How can someone with such a Voice look so sad

[@marcing2505]

show your picture

[@amelieharvey6394]

I mean this is just unnecessary

[@deathwarmedup73]

Kombi Life brought me here....

[@G____________.]

Sounds like The Shins

[@alexraptors95]

The lead singer is James Mercer, also the lead singer of The Shins :)

[@G____________.]

Alex Rixon That explains that then, haha. Thanks, guy

[@cameronbrwdway9486]

Gareth McHardy He's not your guy, fwend.

[@robair9911]

Cameron Brwdway he's not your friend guy

[@wearebradleymanning]

But it doesn't really sound like broken bells, though. More Mercer than Danger Mouse in this performance.

[@TG-fn2ri]

Definitely not a live singer like Bryan Adams -- he sounds great live.

[@sawson21]

is this song about suicide ?

[@jameswetzel5042]

Yes. It tells the stories of two people who are battling depression and have gone to therapy but end up taking their lives through alcohol and of course the gun. The song is from the perspective of the therapist who wanted to help them but realized it was to late. (This is just my interpretation)

[@ulasmtn]

thx bro.

[@momandpopbusinessfunding]

@@jameswetzel5042 Great explanation!!! Thanks man.

[@Not-Ap]

@@jameswetzel5042 Well some people cannot be therapied out the abyss called depression. Sometimes it's internally caused while other times external. Worse sometimes it's both and there's no real way to fix this after certain point when outside world reinforces the negativity consistently.

[@ВероникаПорошековаПорошенкова]

вы какй старане

[@deadofnight2644]

If Michael from Vsauce started a band

[@nontajoin719]

That bass looks like a toy,,,.

[@allysehueymusic]

Yea his playing is good, but it's weird lol