Concert Review, etc.

Arrived at Mainstreet at 8 PM to meet Avi, and he'd already been there for 90 minutes. We expected opener Red Wanting Blue to play at 9, Georgia Avenue at 10, but RWB didn't go on until 9:48. The first five minutes of their set was OK...different...but then it continued. And it went on. And on. It was the same thing for 50 minutes, and it got old really fast. I was very unimpressed with the bassist, but the drummer seemed pretty damn good. All in all, the set was pretty disappointing.

Red Wanting Blue didn't finish until close to 10:45, and Karen warned that she probably wouldn't stay for the whole show. Fortunately, Georgia Avenue set up and started playing rather quickly. Different sound than the last time I heard them; new intros to songs, more vocal play...they're evolving, getting more polished. Jeff Grant, the lead singer, said they've been spending lots of time in the studio lately, which would explain how they're so tight. Impressive.

They opened the set with four or five songs from their first record (Lewis, South Side, Lisa, Walk Alone), then a brand-new one called Talk of the Town (excellent), then a semi-new one that they've been playing it for awhile (Big Life). Jeff did a cover of U2's One with Pete & Chris that he dedicated to his grandfather ("He's not doing as well as we'd hoped...") Pretty solid cover.

During the second half of the set, Jeff seemed a little tired, and the crowd didn't help much. Typical JMU crowd. Karen, Dan & Amanda left at midnight, expecting it to go another hour, and we were out by 12:40. Talking to Jeff afterward, he was disappointed with the turnout; 200 less than the last time they headlined. I have a feeling the weather had something to do with it.

In spite of the short set and crappy college crowd, I had a great time. The first show I've seen them headline, they've really grown since opening for Better Than Ezra back in November. The new songs are still running through my head and I'm looking forward to the new record. Great show, guys!

February 07, 2002 - 09:43 AM