Author |
Topic: The Saratogian review (Read 446 times) |
|
Shannon
WOG Administrator
 
Gender: 
Posts: 6800
|
 |
The Saratogian review
« on: Aug 9th, 2006, 12:54pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
http://www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17031054&BRD=1169& ;PAG=461&dept_id=17776&rfi=6
Goo Goo Dolls review
MICHAEL KORB, For The Saratogian
08/09/2006
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- This was a weird one.
If things had gone according to plan, I'd be telling you about the super fun performance put on by Counting Crows and the semi-interesting performance offered by the Goo Goo Dolls Monday night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. But things did not go according to plan.
First, the Goo Goo Dolls hit the SPAC stage running with the tightest set of radio-friendly tunes you can possibly imagine. In fact, it could have been the radio: the vocals and musicianship were that sharp. If not for the frequent chatting by lead singer John Rzeznik about the state of the world and his take on it -- seriously, how socio-political can a guy with a cleft chin be? -- this whole thing could have been prerecorded.
One after another, from the opening 'Stay With You' from the group's latest release, 'Let Love In,' right into the hit 'Slide,' the cheek-boned wonder dazzled in his cargo pants and black wife-beater. The girls love this guy. Personally, I don't see it. Well, I see it, but I just assumed good looks were superfluous with rocks stars. Honestly, why waste them if you're going to get (edited) anyway? But I digress.
Perhaps it was because they were back in their native New York (the group formed in Buffalo in 1986), but everyone -- even the band -- could tell the vibe was right for a great performance.
'I knew this was going to be a good one,' smirked Rzeznik. 'I got to wander around your town today ... it is really beautiful -- it feels like a place where the world is not about to end.'
Along with band mates Robby Takac (who sings like that creepy thing Gollum from 'The Lord of the Rings') and drummer Mike Malinin and two talented freelance guitarists, the group outshone even the stage setup itself -- which seemed to include curtain-like Light-Bright technology.
Rocking into 'Name' with Rzeznik's uniquely tuned acoustic guitar the band proceeded to power its way brilliantly through hits such as 'Iris,' 'Broadway,' 'Better Days' and an encore which included 'Give A Little Bit.'
And here's things got weird.
We all assume Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz is some sort of Svengali capable of making listeners want to follow him to the cliff's edge. (How else can we explain Courtney Cox ever dating a guy with Sideshow Bob hair?) But Monday, Duritz, in what seemed to be some sort of Counting Crows therapy session, totally changed the planned set list and went primarily acoustic. They even changed the songs themselves.
'Mr. Jones' was re-written a week ago according to Duritz because the band got bored with it, or never could play it that well or 'it just wasn't that good to begin with.' Now, aside from the lyrics, the song is virtually unrecognizable. The same could be said for many of the songs that night. 'I know this is a weird set, but it's exactly what I want to sing tonight,' said Duritz to the crowd whose butts were finding there way back into their seats after standing and dancing for the entire Goo Goo Dolls set.
That's not to say the Counting Crows weren't brilliant. 'Round Here' was spectacular in a cathartic, slowly going insane sort of way. Same for 'Mrs. Potter's Lullaby.' But it was clear that the performance was not really what everyone expected as midway through the set a steady stream of people began heading for the exits. They probably only wanted to hear 'Accidentally in Love' from 'Shrek 2,' and that never came anyway.
But what the band did offer was striking in its quality and intellect. From 'A Long December' to 'Friend of the Devil,' 'Miami,' 'Anna Begins,' 'Angels of the Silences,' 'Four Days' and the finale of 'Holiday in Spain,' the Counting Crows totally hit their mark. The problem was that most of us were expecting a different target.
The Working Title opened the evening with a solid six-song set that felt like everyone from Ben Folds Five to Communique to U2 -- just not quite as good.
©The Saratogian 2006
|
|
 IP Logged |
If you need help, please email me at [email protected]
|
|
|
iris3732
Goo God
I can feel it like a curse.
Gender:
Posts: 3637
|
|
Re: The Saratogian review
« Reply #1 on: Aug 9th, 2006, 5:48pm » |
Quote Modify
|
ha, that was kind of weird.
here's one i found that was less...weird. upbeat, even 
Goos, Crows enjoy lovefest with crowd
|
|
IP Logged |
all I can do is try not to screw this up again
and just be friends
i'd rather be dead
~the marvelous 3
you say it's a good thing
that you float in the air....
~weezer
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Login![[MFC]](http://www.musicfanclubs.org/googoodolls/images3/tag_mfc.gif)
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print