Big Venue Small World
Last night my Girlfriend and I went to the Matchbox 20 “EXILE IN AMERICA” Tour in Charlotte. The show openers, Mute Math, played a great show. I usually dont go to shows unless I learn something about all the musicians playing first. It helped a great deal in this case and also lead to some anger directed toward the crowd.
I am used to small venue shows at Tremont or Amos’, smaller bar/club places. Shows like Atreyu, As I Lay Dying, Horse the Band, Chiodos, Norma Jean, hardcore shows you know. So, when Paul(lead vocals/keys) was jumping around, switching instruments, and doing handstands on his Rhodes and no body was squashed up against the front railing, I was shocked. This band was pouring everything they had into this show and people were just sitting there, with their hands in their laps bobbing their rich little front row heads. I was jealous and pissed at all of them. Show the guys some support, right?
Alanis Morissette played next. It was a decent show. Feminist fans in the crowd obviously still think she is boss. She played her hits, Jagged Little Pill, Univited, et. al., and a few other songs I didn’t recognize. She also played her widely publicised parody of My Humps. She dedicated the song to Fergie. It was the high-light of her set in my opinion. I had never seen her live before. She plays this sweet innocent girl during the verses then breaks into the headbanging stage-hogging feminist woman during the chorus. It worked perfectly. I have to give her credit. She knows how to work the stage.
Matchbox 20 opened with “How Far We’ve Come.” I swear those guys can write a song. During their second song the rythmn guitarist’s guitar malfunctioned. He ran off stage to get another one, that didn’t work. He went off again and grabed another one. He had issues with that also so he walked to the edge of the stage and hurled the guitar off stage at the techies. Then sat down at the edge of the piano stage clearly distraught. After the song Rob asked him what was up and he explained the guitars were messed up and blamed the technitians. They proceedeed to play a blues jam as “Oops…The Messed Up!!!” appeared on the stage behind them. Classic. I love their whatever attitude about issues. It was so cool. The show as whole went well. It was nice seeing the band back together again.
great concert review! good balance of objective and subjective reporting! sounds like it was a great concert! if you have a chance, see Chris Duarte. I promise you won’t be disappointed! he rocks! recently saw oz noy which was kind of weird but fun.