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joc maxima
May. 18th, 2002 12:55 amSo uh, yeah. It was everything a Jars concert should be. Could've been longer - jennifer knapp's set was overlong - but they hold their own as the preeminent crossover band. They're all stunning musicians and regular guys. We met the keyboardist, guitarist and bassist walking to the show, which was VERY disarming. Here we are, talking to a band we payed $45 (!) each to see like we've known them for months. They were just so... easy. They really seemed to lke it here. I can't tell you how strange it was to see them onstage and go, hey, I know that guy! And then hearing the sounds I've loved for so many years come alive - it's a beautiful thing. The Paramount was the best possible venue for this band. It was nice to see them away from an overtly christian setting. I had to remind myself that yes, God is OK here at this show. Nobody's going to blow pot smoke in your face (for once). At least, not while you're in the show...
I went with this kid Justin and Beau from marysville, and their random friend Chris. I was simply my church self, which gets along with everybody. I felt the music snob rise within many a time though. Graham, you're a bad influence and a good educator. :)
The surprise of the evening was Jennifer Knapp, who's grown quite a bit since I last saw her (which couldn't have been too long ago, as anyone attending christian concerts can attest). She's exploring a lot more styles now that she plays with a band behind her, with a lounge-music interlude and even a hint of rock fury. She's someone I respect but in whose music I've always found something lacking. Never knew what it was. It was rock. Definitely. She's writing rock lyrics with rock hooks and backing it up with a weak contract band and KCMS production. No wonder it's boring! Live she's much better though and I hear the new album is good too.
But that was way too much talking about an opening act.
What consistently struck me watching Jars is the sheer variety. They mix everything they can think of into their songs and shows and that they can pull it off and sound so consistent and natural is really quite amazing. They screwed up a reassuring number of times (in key moments like "flood" even), and though Dan Haseltine's voice sounds better than ever he still comes off restrained. If he would let loose i think his vocals could be some of the finest around. It is somewhat amusing watching the band try to keep up with him though. Cool moments were "widowing fields" with When we were soldiers footage behind them, Dan Haseltine's heartbreaking story behind "Fly", the bizarre manipulated dancing movie playing behind "the eleventh hour", and the immortal "Worlds Apart" with the band doing everything short of preaching the Gospel while strumming their guitars.
If I wish something different about the show it's that they could change things up a lot more. >50% of the songs were pretty straight ahead studio-esque versions. I'd like to see them doing things totally different, throwing the melodies into a different light. The times they did it it was amazing, and they've got a pretty good history of experimentation, I just wish they'd take the bolder step to musical expression. Oh, and charge less than $45 for floor seats. That's more than your audience makes in 3 months. Not fair.
I went with this kid Justin and Beau from marysville, and their random friend Chris. I was simply my church self, which gets along with everybody. I felt the music snob rise within many a time though. Graham, you're a bad influence and a good educator. :)
The surprise of the evening was Jennifer Knapp, who's grown quite a bit since I last saw her (which couldn't have been too long ago, as anyone attending christian concerts can attest). She's exploring a lot more styles now that she plays with a band behind her, with a lounge-music interlude and even a hint of rock fury. She's someone I respect but in whose music I've always found something lacking. Never knew what it was. It was rock. Definitely. She's writing rock lyrics with rock hooks and backing it up with a weak contract band and KCMS production. No wonder it's boring! Live she's much better though and I hear the new album is good too.
But that was way too much talking about an opening act.
What consistently struck me watching Jars is the sheer variety. They mix everything they can think of into their songs and shows and that they can pull it off and sound so consistent and natural is really quite amazing. They screwed up a reassuring number of times (in key moments like "flood" even), and though Dan Haseltine's voice sounds better than ever he still comes off restrained. If he would let loose i think his vocals could be some of the finest around. It is somewhat amusing watching the band try to keep up with him though. Cool moments were "widowing fields" with When we were soldiers footage behind them, Dan Haseltine's heartbreaking story behind "Fly", the bizarre manipulated dancing movie playing behind "the eleventh hour", and the immortal "Worlds Apart" with the band doing everything short of preaching the Gospel while strumming their guitars.
If I wish something different about the show it's that they could change things up a lot more. >50% of the songs were pretty straight ahead studio-esque versions. I'd like to see them doing things totally different, throwing the melodies into a different light. The times they did it it was amazing, and they've got a pretty good history of experimentation, I just wish they'd take the bolder step to musical expression. Oh, and charge less than $45 for floor seats. That's more than your audience makes in 3 months. Not fair.
