By CJ Carpent
Arrived early enough (way too early, thanks to paranoia over etix - which worked fine, btw) to hear the sound check through the front glass of the Cradle. Very loud! A half hour later, Janet, Carrie and Corin came out and walked into the parking lot. I kept casual, nodding to my friend Jim, “Dude?” “Yep,” he said. “That’s them.”
What can I say? 2 and a half hours later, I get inside. In my younger days, I’d sat in the first 5 rows. Not anymore. I took up residence at a riser on the right side of the house. Not the best view, but good enough to see.
Quails played first. Bass player was all over that thing. I actually thought that since this guy was so good, S-Ks sound may be sort of anemic by comparison. More on this wrong thought in a minute.
V for Vendetta was next. Two people made a lot of noise. Strange time signatures. Is this what is known as ‘math rock’ these days? If it is, I liked it. Jim - as pay back for the trip - went to the merchandise table between acts and scooped both opener’s CDs.
Then, finally, after roadies or stage technicians switched mics and did a final check, the lights go down and they crank into Oxygen, I believe (but I remember set lists as well as I do directions, not very well).
After four + years being a fan of this band, here I was seeing them play live. And the *band-ness* of them surprised me. Tight, in command of the stage, and having a great time. It was infectious. And my concern about anemia where the low-freq’s were concerned? Not a problem. Corin’s bassy rhythm guitar rattled the teeth. One “DAMN!” moment came in YNRRF, when, in the middle Corrin solo part, she hit that riff way lower and meaner than anything on record, and this low-throb WOOSH enveloped the house. Damn, indeed! I was cackling like a goofball by then. But nobody could hear me. Which was probably good.
Janet was all over her drum set and must be in near pro athlete shape to go like that for a whole show. They were the backbone, and when she soloed it was unlike the metal-rock cliche it can be- it wasn’t boring or out of place at all. The crowd was into it, too.
As for Carrie - she was more talkative than the rest, with a playfulness and fun that differs from her image. I wish I could’ve been closer so I could see what she was doing on her guitar.
They did Promised Land cover. Janet did the harmonica. And it sounded damn fine.
The whole thing? Simply amazing. My one complaint? I couldn’t see them on their next stop. Jim said, after the show, “I now know why people follow bands around.”
Filed under: Reviews