2008 Concert Journals

[murlough23]

whoa, wait, i'm not talking about that they can't get critical immunity, i just have a problem with the fact that you are making it sound as if YOU know better than THEM what THEY  should be doing, and that they should NOT be doing what they ARE doing right now, especially since you haven't been to a show on this tour.  that's my only gripe.  i don't mind you not liking what they are doing or whatever, that's no big deal, but i do have a problem with you making it sound as if they are 'obviously' making some colossal mistake, especially when i experienced the tour this week and saw otherwise. 

The charity thing is immaterial to this conversation. That's the point I'm trying to make. It's a red herring to even bring it up. I certainly respect that aspect of it, and I don't want it to sound like I'm trivializing it. It's just that it's a whole separate issue.

The thing with Jars is that I thought they quit their record label and went indie in order to have greater artistic control over what kind of music they wanted to make and when they wanted to put it out. I figured that would finally fix the long-standing problem of their setlists at live shows leaning so heavily on their overplayed first album. Then I found out that they had been relegated to being someone else's opener for the opener for the opener, and the problem of old hits being disproportionate to new material grew exponentially as a result of that. This worries me about the future of the band.

I chose not to go to a show on this tour for several reasons, many of them having nothing to do with Jars of Clay's setlist. Their stop in Southern California is actually tomorrow evening, and I have a church retreat to attend this weekend. Before I even knew about the retreat, the 6 PM start time combined with L.A. traffic and the fact that it's easily over an hour away in no traffic means that I would have missed pretty much all of Jars of Clay's set. Then there's the issue of Switchfoot recycling their same setlist for three tours straight now (with minor adjustments, I guess - they took out some of the back-end highlights from Oh! Gravity and Nothing Is Sound without really adding much of anything new) - I already got burned with the waste of time that was their setlist on the tour with Relient K. And then, of course, there's the headliner, who has a merely average new album and tends to focus on the softie worship hits from their older albums, so that was bound to be a bunk setlist as well. Pretty much the only reason to go would have been Robert Randolph.

Jars of Clay can obviously do what they want; I'm not the boss of them. But it's sad when they keep using their first album as a security blanket despite the fact that there's so much other strong material in between, and they have new material that hasn't really made its way to live setlists yet. Up until now, I figured I could blame that on Essential, but doing it after going independent shows that it really was the band's choice after all, and this kind of weakens my faith in my favorite band. Maybe they'll come around when they headline a tour for their next album. I will certainly do the "research" and ask other fans what sort of songs they're playing before I get tickets to that one.

[plvarona]

I just went to the much-discussed Music Builds Tour this past weekend.  I went on Friday night in Houston, which is a 4-5 hour drive from over here in Baton Rouge.  (Basically, I rearranged my work schedule last week and took Friday off.)  I enjoyed myself quite a bit too.

As for general notes, this concert ended up turning into a benefit concert for the city of Houston, which is still recovering from Hurricane Ike.  This meant extra media coverage, and the concert was even televised nationally (probably on public TV.)  One downside was that the concert was actually relocated because the original venue was damaged severely and deemed unusable, and on top of that, there was a high school football game going on at the same time right next to the concert venue, which made traffic a complete nightmare.  However, the alternative probably would have been canceling the show, so I'll take the traffic issues over that.

As for the bands, Jars of Clay went first, and they certainly made the best of a short set.  Honestly, this is the most energetic I've seen Dan.  The band also sounded good overall, even if it took a few songs for them to really get their sound balance down.  Once they did though, the instrumentation really stood out.  I liked the extra percussion they brought in for "Love Song For a Savior 08", and Charlie's keyboarding once again was plenty of opportunities to shine given that Jars' music has become more electronic as of late.  As for the set list (which will be posted below), it was slightly more heavy on recent music, with more than half the set consisting of material from Good Monsters or later.  I personally liked that for 3 of the 8 songs, this was the first time I had heard that song live.  Furthermore, the only two songs from their first album were the two songs included on their Closer EP, and hearing the new versions live gave me much more of an appreciation for them.  So overall, this was an excellent way to start the show.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band were next, and I honestly thought they got off to somewhat of a sluggish start.  Their first three songs were actually the same three starting songs from the last time I saw them, and I thought they did those songs better last time.  However, they got much better in the second half, as Robert did a great job getting the crowd involved then, and it helped that the music was very conducive to crowd participation anyway.  Then, on the closing song, Robert and Co. really ended with a bang by first getting the crowd into the song, then after they were revved up, the band members kept taking turns trading instruments, and what was impressive was that each member sounded good on their new respective instruments!  So that was a great display of their talent and a crowd-pleaser, all rolled into one.  It also helped that the band sounded good overall.  They just didn't wow me like they did last time, but I still enjoyed their set.

Switchfoot was next, and honestly this was the best I've heard them musically.  However, I'm going to ding them a little bit for having an overly predictable set list.  Basically, if you take their set list from the Apetite for Construction Tour, and replace "Rebuild" with "This is Home", you pretty much have the idea.  On the plus side, "This is Home" went over very well in a live setting, and the band threw in a few new subtle wrinkles, most notably Jon singing a few lines from "Twenty-Four" before going into "Meant to Live."  Those two things, and the band's excellent performance meant that I enjoyed their set overall, although in the future I would like to see them change their set lists up more.  Maybe the new album they talked about will take care of that?

Third Day headlined the show, and they turned out to be a pleasant surprise.  Maybe I shouldn't have been all that surprised by them because I have always enjoyed them in concert.  However, my concern came from their last few CDs showing diminishing returns, and also some of the reports on here about their show getting more subdued.  Maybe it really was more subdued, but the band still sounded really good so I was okay with that.  Admittedly, I was also a little worried when they started their set with "Creed", but after that they kept the repetitive worship songs to a minimum.  In fact, I found this to be their most satisfying live set since the Come Together tour.  I especially give them props from breaking out "I've Always Loved You", which I hadn't heard live since the first time I saw them back in 2000.  Furthermore, Mac's comment about that being one of his favorite songs makes me wonder why that song was absent from their set lists all this time, especially when you consider it was a big radio hit.  I'm also glad that "Run to You" made its way onto the set list, even if it sounded like something was missing without Lacey Moseley.  (I actually had the same comment on Jars of Clay's "Mirrors & Smoke" when they performed it live without the female vocal part.)  Not surprisingly, Revelation took up a big chunk of the set list, and those songs went over well in a live setting.  That probably shouldn't have been too much of a surprise, given that my biggest beef with that album was with the lyrics, and I was fine with the music.  As I mentioned earlier, they mostly stayed away from the repetitive worship songs that for some reason were big radio hits.  One other note was that they altered "Cry Out to Jesus", where they sang the chorus, Mac went into a sermon, and then ended by singing the chorus again.  Usually I get annoyed when artists give a long sermon in the middle of a song, although Mac handled this better than most other artists, and I didn't think the sermon cut into the concert flow too badly.  (In fact, it was relevant to the spirit of the song.)  Overall, I thought Third Day sounded very good, and showed they are still capable of putting together a great live show.

I do think the show's finale was one of the best ones I've ever seen.  First, Third Day invited Robert Randolph onto stage for "Otherside", which made sense considering he played on that song on the album.  Then after that, Jars of Clay was invited on stage for a rendition of "I'll Fly Away", a song that Jars usually does very well live and this was no exception.  Then after that, Jon Foreman and Andrew Shirley from Switchfoot were invited for the closing number, a cover of U2's "When Love Came to Town."  It certainly looked like all 12 of the guys on stage were enjoying themselves, and I was definitely enjoying watching them.  So overall, I'm definitely glad I made the trip to see the show.

Set Lists:

Third Day: "Creed", "I Got a Feeling", "Rockstar", "Call My Name", "I've Always Loved You", "Thief", "God of Wonders", "Run to You", "Tunnel", "Always Be True", "Cry Out to Jesus" (with one long sermon verse), "Revelation", "Otherside" (w/ Robert Randolph), "I'll Fly Away" (w/ Jars of Clay & Robert Randolph), "When Love Came to Town" (w/ Jon Foreman, Andrew Shirley, Robert Randolph & Jars of Clay)

Switchfoot "Stars"/"Deep In The Heart of Texas" (instrumental), "Oh!  Gravity.", "Crazy In Love"/"Gone", "We Are One Tonight", "This is Home", "This is Your Life", "American Dream", "Dirty Second Hands", "On Fire" (w/ Robert Randolph), "Rebuild"/"Awakening", "Twenty-Four"/"Meant to Live", "Dare You to Move"

Robert Randolph & The Family Band: "Good Times", "I Need More Love", "Say Yeah!", "The March", "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That", "I Don't Know What You Came To Do"

Jars of Clay: "Flood (new rain)", "Love is the Protest", "Closer", "Love Song For a Savior 08", "I Need You", "Heaven" (new song), "Work", "Dead Man (Carry Me)"

[murlough23]

Sleeping at Last cancelled their Hollywood, CA tour date, citing economic downturn as the reason for not being able to make it out here.

I am like a tornado of anger, swirling about.

[ajyouthguy]

saw Project 86 tonight, they were really good.  the openers were Spoken (blah), and a localish band called Whitecollar Sideshow that is absolutely amazing.  their show is not really a musical concert so much as a multi-media theatrical production that is powerful, hard-hitting  and incredible musically as well.

[identification]

Just got back from seeing Anberlin.  They were really good, and played songs mostly from Cities.  Songs from New Surrender that they played were The Resistance, Disappear, and Haight St.  One highlight of the set was the closing song, *Fin.

[murlough23]

Songs from New Surrender that they played were The Resistance, Disappear, and Haight St.

If I were to pick only three songs from New Surrender, "Haigh St." would definitely not be one of the top three. Hell, it wouldn't even be one of the top ten.

One highlight of the set was the closing song, *Fin.

Wow, how'd they pull that one off live? And have they improved in the background vocals department? (When I saw them, my big problem with them was that Stephen Christian handled all of the vocals and nobody sang backup - so there were a lot of conspicuous gaps in places where Stephen's vocals overlap themselves on the album versions.)

[identification]

Haight St. did seem kind of random.  Admittedly, I do like it just as a fun song... but it still seemed kind of random.  I was so excited they played The Resistance though... I knew it would translate well into a live setting. 

*Fin was cool.  They didn't do the whole 8 minute drawn out version.  Just to the part where the live drums cut out (to roughly 6:00 on the album version), but it was still way cool.  A little bonus that was cool was they had the childrens' choir playing track playing in the background when they got to that part.  I wasn't expecting that.

Background vocals... they have a keyboard player out on this tour, and he did a lot of the BG vocals.  But both of their guitar players were singing too.  They weren't in the mix well enough that they were extremely clear, but they were there.  So, I guess no complaints there, really.

[murlough23]

Background vocals... they have a keyboard player out on this tour, and he did a lot of the BG vocals.  But both of their guitar players were singing too.  They weren't in the mix well enough that they were extremely clear, but they were there.  So, I guess no complaints there, really.

Good, then they've learned from their mistakes.

This has been a really sucky year for concerts for me. I mean, the two I attended were awesome, but there have only been two. In past years, there were times when I'd go to two concerts in a single week. (Though obviously not every week.) Sleeping at Last cancelled and I'm not sure I want to shell out a ton of money to see Coldplay... so the hell with it. I guess I'm done with concerts for 2008. On the upside, I guess I'm saving up for the inevitable U2 tour in 2009. This is really gonna be a "now or never" thing for me.

NP: "Best of Luck", Nickel Creek

[Ian]

^That's what I need to do for Radiohead on their next tour.  But yeah, I've only been to one concert this year so far.  It was awesome (mewithoutYou + Maps & Atlases = hellz yeah), but living in this small town kinda sucks where concert-going is concerned.

I really do need to see Radiohead before they break up, or die, or whatever.  And Muse and My Morning Jacket.

[murlough23]

living in this small town kinda sucks where concert-going is concerned.

I live in a big town, so I'm not sure what the hell my problem is. It might be that I like too many small-time bands from small towns who can't afford to make it out here very often, plus a lot of popular bands that either aren't from this coast or are too expensive to go see.

NP: "Over the Rainbow", Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

[ajyouthguy]

^That's what I need to do for Radiohead on their next tour.  But yeah, I've only been to one concert this year so far.  It was awesome (mewithoutYou + Maps & Atlases = hellz yeah), but living in this small town kinda sucks where concert-going is concerned.

I had to look it up b/c i couldn't remember where exactly you were, but i remember now that you are also in Arkansas, i just had a brain fart.

that said...London is smaller than Siloam Springs, but i go to Little Rock and Fort Smith and Conway and occasionally places like Jonesboro or the Fayetteville area for shows.  plus i have been fortunate to be in bigger places at times that there are shows over the years (ie, Nashville, Atlanta, Tulsa), so that's been nice.

[ajyouthguy]

saw a band out of the same church as David Crowder Band last weekend, called Dutton.  They are pretty good.

saw David Crowder Band tonight in Little Rock.  They were amazing as usual.  It probably wasn't my favorite time of the 5/6 times i've seen them, but it was still very awesome and the other 5 people with me had never seen them so they were really blown away.  I don't think most people realize just how good and how talented the DCB guys really are.

Setlist:
Undignified (curious starter, but a nice surprise)
No One Like You
Foreverandever, etc.
Can You Feel It
Here is Our King
Come Thou Fount (even though they used to put one on each cd, that was the first time i'd heard them do a hymn live).
Amazing Grace (back to back hymns!)
Glory of it All
You are My Joy
I Saw the Light
Everything Glorious
Neverending
O Praise Him
Sing Like the Saved (interesting choice, chosen as much as anything for 'rowdy factor,' i think)

Encore: Here I Am to Worship (big surprise here)

They changed things up a lot compared to the other times i've seen them, but it was some pleasant surprises.  I was also somewhat disappointedly surprised in some of the songs from Remedy that weren't played (namely "Never Let Go," "Remedy" and "Surely We Can Change." ) But overall it was a great show.

[murlough23]

Sounds like a fun concert, but I have to question the logic of "No One Like You", "Foreverandever, etc." and "Neverending" all being part of the same setlist (which also happened when I saw them last year) when they're all pretty much the same song.

[ajyouthguy]

saw Third Day, NEEDTOBREATHE, and a newish band from Australia called Revive.  It was a very very good show.  I was excited about the show because I had heard about NEEDTOBREATHE's live show, but the whole show was very solid.

Revive was decent for newcomers.  They interacted with the crowd well and played up it being their first time in America.  They seem to be pretty cool guys and loving the chances God has given them.  They were ok as entertainers, but I think would be more enjoyable in a setting like leading worship for a conference or church service or something along those lines.  Their music was solid...the lyrics could use a little improvement, though.

NEEDTOBREATHE was next, and as I stated, I was looking forward to them by far the most because I had heard stories about how solid their live show is for a while.  They started a little rough...a little slow and maybe a bad sound mix at first made me think 'oh no, I'm gonna be disappointed about the one thing I was looking forward to.'  But once they got rolling, they were awesome.  They are very talented musically and really tore it up onstage.  They played about 6 or 7 songs, mostly off of The Heat, their newer album.  They even did something I've never seen before, having the sound guys completely turn off the system for their last song and doing it completely stripped down with no amplification at all.  It was interesting and worked for the most part. Songs they played that i can remember..."Shine On," "Signature of Divine (Yahweh)," "More Time," "We Could Run Away," "Restless," "Washed by the Water." that may be it...it doesn't seem like a lot, but they played extended jams and stuff on several of them so it felt like more.

Third Day was, of course, the headliners and who most of the crowd (excluding me and very few others I'm sure) was there for.  I have seen them several times, probably second only to Jars of Clay in number of times, and they've always been solid live, but the last time I saw them, last year at the National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta, they disappointed me, sounding way overly polished and overproduced.  I was anticipating much of the same, and was wondering how not having Brad Avery anymore and not replacing him (meaning only 1 guitarist) would work.  I was pleasantly surprised for the most part.  They played for over an hour and a half, hitting about 2/3 of the new album and a ton of old favorites, but not just the ones you might expect.  Mark, as the only guitarist now, really showed off and he is a lot better than i realized.  Mac, of course, is as good of a frontman during a live show as just about anyone i've seen, and this was no exception.  The highlight for me and for the other 2 I was with, was when they did a several song stripped down acoustic set, which is something i've seen them do before, only this time they actually set up out in the middle of the crowd, probably 15-20 rows in or so in a clearing.  That was pretty cool...they did "I've Always Loved You," "Your Love O Lord," "You are So Good to Me," "When the Rain Comes" and "Love Song" during that time.  They did a good mix of songs 3 song encore that included one of the songs from Revelation (I'm blanking on which one), as well as "God of Wonders" and "Agnus Dei," which was a fitting, albeit (to me) slightly disappointing end to the night.  As with any band with an extensive catalog like they have, there were songs I wish they had played but didn't, but honestly with regards to that,  most of them didn't really surprise me.  The only two songs that it surprised me they didn't do were "Come Together" and "Consuming Fire," both of which seemed to be concert staples over the years.

I got to briefly (key word here) meet  the NEEDTOBREATHE guys afterwards, so that was pretty cool.

one other note...and coming from a youth pastor you know it had to be bad to get to me this much to mention it since I deal with stuff like this allllll the time...there were these incredibly annoying teenage girls sitting behind us who, one, thought they knew everything (and knew very little) about Third Day, talked through most of NEEDTOBREATHE and a lot of the other parts of the night, and worse, spent a TON of time talking about who from which band was 'hott.'  wow.  it made me glad my youth group is not like that, at least not in settings like that publicly.

[murlough23]

Regarding Third Day, doesn't Mac also play guitar? It might just be rhythm, but the image of him playing a guitar stands out in my mind because he's left handed, so his guitar faces the other way.

And good on them for picking "different" oldies to fill out their setlist. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Jars of Clay should take a hint.

[ajyouthguy]

Regarding Third Day, doesn't Mac also play guitar? It might just be rhythm, but the image of him playing a guitar stands out in my mind because he's left handed, so his guitar faces the other way.

yes, he does...i guess i mis-spoke in saying '1 guitarist,' but I forget about  Mac b/c he plays on less than half the songs.  I meant the consistent at least 2 (sometimes 3 when Mac played) guitars going all the time, like they had for SO long with Mark and Brad.

[murlough23]

yes, he does...i guess i mis-spoke in saying '1 guitarist,' but I forget about  Mac b/c he plays on less than half the songs.  I meant the consistent at least 2 (sometimes 3 when Mac played) guitars going all the time, like they had for SO long with Mark and Brad.

It's definitely a secondary role, but it helps to explain why some songs can only work with "one guitarist", because you really only need one lead (Mark) and one rhythm (Mac), and sometimes, for less rock-oriented songs, you really just need the one guitar, period.

There are a lot of bands where I forget that the singer is also a guitarist or bass player - The Elms, Skillet, etc.

NP: "Pinch Me", Barenaked Ladies