feel the music

The Knoxville radio station, 94.3 the x, put on a free  concert this evening. Many free concerts are free because most folks wouldn't go if they had to pay. This show was featuring Filter, a band that has been around and successful for years. I would've gladly paid to see it.

The only criteria for getting in the door was you needed to have tickets beforehand. The other thing was that it was first come, first served -- meaning that having a ticket alone was no guarantee that you would get admitted into the show. It was advised to get there early to ensure you *did* get in.

The doors opened at 9 PM, so Sean and I made sure we were there by 9. Besides, it would give us a chance to see the local openers, Down From Up and Skytown Riot. Neither he nor I had seen them before, let alone heard any of their work, so we would have been there early anyway.

Being there around the time the doors open is typical for us. We like to experience new music. What was odd, was the fact that the line bent all the way around the building out towards the next road.

We finally work our way to the door, get admitted, find a spot on the floor, and just people watch until the show started. There was a single spotlight turned on and it was facing downwards right on to the floor. It was amusing to watch people either totally avoid the light or stand in it and pose for friends and/or cameras.

Down From Up took the stage first, and I am immediately impressed with the drummer. He is really good. The rest of the band is okay, but the drummer seemed to be in a class of his own up there. The lead guitarist had talent but really strived more on flash and flare than substance, in my opinion. They played four songs before their set was over. They were good, but there was no doubt why they opened.

Neither of us being a smoker, we rarely leave the spot we first arrive at. I find it fun to watch the breakdown and setup and sound checks between acts. Besides, it allows a wider vantage point for people watching than does the smoking area.

The bassist for Skytown Riot started doing his sound check and it was obvious, that he knew how to thump a bass. The dude was good.

They soon took to the stage and before the first song was done, the bassist had already blown an amp. Either this happens often, or they just come that prepared, because the vocalist claims that he has another and begins immediately hooking it up. Meanwhile the drummer, lead and rhythm guitarists all begin doing an impromptu jam  (although if blowing amps is a regular occurence, maybe it wasn't so impromptu after all).

Jam is a good description for this band. They really did have some great jam sessions as the rest of their set went along without a hitch. They were really tight and seemed to know where each one was in their progressions.

The thing that I found bothersome, was the fact that the music wasn't "polished". They would have a neat groove going and then it would just abruptly .... stop.

There was no transition from jamming to quitting. It was ..... "choppy". The music was great, though, and they are quite a talented bunch. I just felt it was not done as well as it could. (not that I could do any better, but just as an observer, that's what I noticed)

After their set, the crew began clearing the stage again, followed by more sound checks. While mixing the drum sound for Filter's set, I could literally feel the jeans vibrate around my legs from the sound waves. It happened again when they set the bass levels. Pretty fuckin' cool -- this is going to be great!

Then Filter took the stage; and they took it with a storm. It was a total assault. Loud, high-energy, it was visceral.

I always am curious to see how a band coming off a long layoff will perform together. Filter broke up for a few years and are now back together touring and supporting their latest release.

It was as if there was no layoff. They were tight and it was evident they were really enjoying themselves.

The beauty was by about the third song, it was evident that this was one of those shows where the band and the crowd are so intertwined that they are really feeding off of each other. It certainly was a great exchange as they entertained us with their "short bus rock-n-roll" and the crowd returned the favor with an active mosh pit, crowd surfing, and loud cheering.

It is always neat to see that interaction between the band and the crowd and even better to be a part of it (no I don't do the mosh thing, but I cheered myself hoarse). You often hear "thanks, you folks are why we do this" or "you guys are awesome", etc. but you could hear (and feel) the sincerity of their words this evening.

After the show was over and the house lights came back on, all I could utter was "HOLYFUCKINSHIT". I was floored. What a show! Sean echoed it with "WOW" twice. 

We got back to the truck and I asked "why was that the first time I ever seen them live?" If they ever come back to the area, and I am able, I will be seeing them a second time. Great, great, great show!