Into The Sublime Celestial Brine

I saw Carbon Leaf last night at Mainstreet for what was probably the last time of my college career. All in all, a disappointing show: Barry admitted to having a cold, and it was pretty obvious. One of the main reasons I like Carbon Leaf so much is his voice: it has an uncommon clarity and surety. Last night, he was off at times, and I think it may have affected the band, as well. Desperation Song, my favorite of their catalog, sounded hollow and, to be honest, a little bit lifeless.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy myself at all. I found the one place in the venue with good acoustics: directly beneath the soundboard. Best I can figure, the sound can't echo from the ceiling to that particular spot, and as a result it was the best sounding concert I've ever experienced there. American Tale kicked ass with an awesome dark-ish intro, the breakdown of I Know The Reason featured a few lines of Springsteen's I'm On Fire, and Home rocked the house. Above all, they did a kickass cover of Dear Prudence that made me wish they'd have gone right into Glass Onion (alas! they did not).

Anyway, fun night (though too late, considering my 8:15 class this morning) and my first use of my over-21-hood to avoid the annoying $3-under-21-surcharge of which Mainstreet is so fond. And I didn't even buy any alcohol. Suck it, Mainstreet!

February 04, 2004 - 09:48 PM

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