Soul Asylum returned in support of their latest release, and they rocked the stage with a vengeance. I was expecting something more stripped back, but the energy was high throughout the entire evening. The crowd was served a first class set of new and old material with an even balance of the two. If I had one complaint it would be that there weren't enough people in the house, as it didn't seem to fill up any more after the opening act.
It was especially cool of the band and the venue to offer stage coverage that night, which gave me a chance to get some great shots and then enjoy the rest of the show. I was particularly impressed with the drummer. I wasn't bothered by not knowing much of their new material. It was fresh and exciting, and I've since been listening to their latest disc and it's fantastic. This all made for a show well worth seeing.
Larry Toering
Larry Toering
For me there are two advantages to a show not being sold out. The first is that I have room to cover it with elbows to spare. Secondly, it's usually an intimate performance. This night was a perfect example of that, and I wasn't expecting to even attend the show. So, the whole night was a great surprise that I'll never forget. They jammed with all of their 90s ferocity, along with a lot of modern touches, fuzzy guitar and bass effects, and a killer light show, as well.
Larry Toering
Larry Toering
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013 Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.