This was the first show that I've seen at the new location of The Crocodile. It's a much bigger performance space (although its stage might not be big enough to accommodate the Massive Monkees), and much more nicely laid out. Everclear played to a sold-out house last Wednesday. I was there under the auspices of the band's PR manager, who had set up the interview with Art Alexakis for me.
The band hit the stage to the taped Beach Boys-ish vocal harmony intro to "So Much for the Afterglow," and rocked it like they had something to prove. They kept up that energy level throughout the set, hitting all the high points. And just as he was in his interview, Art was pretty forthcoming about certain details of his personal life. He told the crowd how it had upset him, some years ago, when people in Portland had seen him kinda stumbling around town, and started gossiping about how he'd fallen off the wagon, after more than 25 years of sobriety. (At the time, he had not made his MS diagnosis public.)
Anyway, they played a smokin' hot, generous set, and kept the audience rockin' from the first hard chords of "Afterglow" to the closing number, a Vaselines cover. And the line sure was long at the swag booth, during and after their set.
SETLIST:
So Much for the Afterglow
Everything to Everyone
Heroin Girl
Father of Mine
Local God
Sing Away
The Twistinside
Summerland
Amphetamine
Wonderful
Strawberry
AM Radio
Learning How to Smile
I Will Buy You a New Life
Santa Monica
ENCORE:
Volvo Driving Soccer Mom
Molly's Lips
The Pink Spiders were one of the opening acts. I've wanted to see this band since hearing their second album,
Teenage Graffiti. That tight trio is history, though; the current version of the band is singer/guitarist/songwriter Matt Friction plus whoever he brings along for the ride. Still a cool rockin' band. Matt played "What's So Funny" onstage alone, just him and a guitar, which prompted a big sing-along. He acknowledged that the song "was written by Nick Lowe, and made famous by Elvis Costello -- two musical heroes of mine." They also gave tribute to The Ataris, who'd been the other opening act on this tour, until one of them got sidelined with Covid. (They called that Don Henley cover "one of The Ataris' songs." I'll leave it at that.)
SETLIST:
Gold Confetti
Let's Go Home
Soft Smoke
Easy Way Out
The Boys of Summer
Busy Signals
Freakin' Freakin' Out
What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding
Black Dagger
Nobody Baby
Little Razorblade
Modern Swinger
The third act on the bill was a Seattle band called Linda From Work. Very cool band! I'd never seen them or heard their music before -- I am woefully under-informed about the music scene in that city. But great songs, and a good stage presence. This hopefully won't be the last time I've seen them. They have two albums,
Burnout and
The Night Is Short. Check 'em out if you haven't already.
SETLIST (grabbed off the stage):
Ego
Walk On Girl
Paralyzed
Wasting All My Time
Father, May I?
Jealous
Under the Surface
