In the Future, Howie Day Will Be Sent to Distant Lands Through Beams of Light
Howie Day popped the Grand Ballroom's cherry with style tonight. The first show ever in the new ballroom was very well attended, and one of the best concerts I've ever seen on campus. First, the setlist:
Sorry, So Sorry
Morning After
After You
I'll Take You On
Ghost >
Beams of Light
Brace Yourself
Madrigal (abbreviated)
I'm That Guy
Buzzing >
Africa
Kristina
Bunnies
Madrigal
She Says
===
Drugs Don't Work
Sweet >
New Year's Prayer
First, the crowd: tonight's audience was one of the most respectful, receptive and polite crowds I have ever seen at JMU. I complain about the crowds at nearly every concert in Harrisonburg, but for once, I am proud to have been a member of the audience. The setting was quite intimate, for a largeish-ballroom, and allowed for some decent interaction between the crowd and Howie. Nothing ridiculous, though.
Someone's cell phone went off between the chorus and the second verse of Madrigal the first time around, and Howie just stopped and said something to the effect of, "Well, now you fucked up my song." He then played an impromptu tune with lyrics along the lines, "I'm that guy who goes to movies and shows and doesn't turn my phone off..." Madrigal (reprise) was quite excellent, however.
Two new songs tonight, that I had not heard before, I'll Take You On and Brace Yourself. I wasn't too keen on the first, but I liked the second one a lot. It reminded me throughout of a U2 song.
Kristina, one of my favorite Howie Day songs of all time, was a nice surprise. The Jeff Buckley outtro to Sweet gave Amanda some sort of audiogasm, and seems to have cemented a genuine admiration of Howie Day.
Tomorrow (the sixth) is the two-and-a-half year anniversary of the first time I ever saw Howie play, opening for Pat McGee Band at Irving Plaza. He has come a long way; I feel somehow proud of him. He's got a great future ahead of him.
November 05, 2002 - 11:50 PM