R.E.M. accelerates with new hits, energized oldies

MANSFIELD—Making an album of songs that you want to play live and, better yet, are worth hearing can work wonders for a band.

Last night, R.E.M., fresh off the open-armed reception of its exhilarating new release, "Accelerate," played with joy, confidence, and, in lead singer Michael Stipe’s case, plenty of wiggle in the hips.

The new songs were judiciously sprinkled like fresh seasoning throughout a wide-ranging set of hits and rarities played with an exuberance that invigorated the well-known songs and cast new light on deep album tracks.

The seams were pretty tight as well, as energetic tone-setter "Living Well is the Best Revenge" led into the vintage sizzle of "Begin the Begin," which in turn set up the flutter and wow of "What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?" until two hours had whizzed by on the back of Stipe’s impassioned warble, guitarist Peter Buck’s serpentine riffage, and bassist Mike Mills’ sand and honey harmonies.

The band’s longtime sidemen, drummer Bill Rieflin and guitarist Scott McCaughey, made their contributions known as well.

While some tracks garnered bigger responses from the three-quarters-full house than others — the martial tempos and megaphone blare of "Orange Crush," the still soaring "The One I Love," the incongruously breezy "Bad Day" — the band made a strong case for everything it played.

The shimmering piano sway of "Electrolite" from "New Adventures in Hi Fi" and "Let Me In" from "Monster" — done in a tight circle with three acoustic guitars, Buck on wavering synths and Stipe letting loose with some of his most lovely high notes — were happy surprises. As was the righteous "Ignoreland."

Of the new tracks, the wistful "Houston," written in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the sweet and rocking "Hollow Man" felt particularly worthy to stand alongside favorites like "Driver 8" and "Losing My Religion."

Stipe, in a sharp suit and good spirits, bantered a bit between songs, giving a shout-out to local celebrity chef Michael Schlow and dedicating the opening lines of "Cuyahoga" to Barack Obama. Mills also tipped a cap to local legends Mission of Burma before handling lead vocals on "(Don’t Go Back) to Rockville."

Johnny Marr, late of the Smiths and current guitarist for openers Modest Mouse, joined in on encores of "Fall on Me," "Pretty Persuasion," and jubilant closer "Man on the Moon."

Modest Mouse played an intense set of their own angular modern rock to a highly receptive crowd, while moody rockers the National also got the thumbs-up for their richly textured and surprisingly well-attended early performance.