POP MUSIC REVIEW : BUNNYMEN, NEW ORDER PLAY AT FORUM

Least likely arena rockers of the year: Echo & the Bunnymen and New Order, two English bands currently alternating headliner status on a U.S. tour.

It wasn’t long ago that a concert by either group was sure to draw a limited roundup of the usual older art-monster suspects. Sunday, these bands filled most of the seats at the Forum, and after the show the pre-driver’s-license teen set was lined up along Manchester Boulevard waiting for Mom and Dad.

Joining the ranks of the current teen-bop bands of choice hasn’t come by compromise. Video era or not, both groups proved as lacking in stage charisma as ever (though Bunnymen singer Ian McCulloch’s occasional little dance steps proved popular), and there’s little in the moody sound of either outfit that might traditionally be described as “commercially accessible.” Regardless, the kids ate it up. Go figure, and just be glad for the adventurous spirit of today’s youth.

Nice as this is to see, both bands have built-in characteristics that--while making their albums interesting--lessen their chances of successfully working such a large hall: Synth-oriented New Order writes simple, often deeply personal lyrics, but generally sets them to a dispassionate, mechanized rhythm. (This is, of course, the band that made the dance floor safe for manic depressives again.) Conversely, Echo & the Bunnymen has more of the musical kick you’d seek out in a live rock ‘n’ roll band, but the sentiments are couched in such obtuse, elliptical poetry that there’s little but guitar lines for a fan in the rafters to latch onto.

Fans seemed not to mind the lack of U2-style grandstanding (good) or real communication (bad) and were further won over by the guest appearance of ex-Doors organist Ray Manzarek during Echo’s set, which included three Doors numbers.