Like the Midtown show,they did a tribute to fellow Minneapolis native, The Artist, with a favorite of mine,"Take Me With You", and did a bang up cover of the Split Enz "I Don't KnowWhy Sometimes I Get Frightened", complete with audience participation banging on thealuminum benches in the pavilion. "Across the Great Divide" fromtheir first CD Great Divide was awesome as a closer. However, I think my very favorite is "Completely Pleased", an eroticallycharged ode to satisfying your better half.
#SEMISONIC CLOSING TIME GIF FULL#
What coordination!!Ī full Semisonic set this time (as opposed to the short festival set at Midtown a few weeks ago), I got to hear all my favoritesincluding "Never You Mind", "Secret Smile", and the hit "ClosingTime", from current CD, the appropriately titled, Feeling Strangely Fine. Duringcertain songs, each member played the keyboards and at times the drummer was doing bothdrumming and keyboard playing at the same time. I was able to sneak up to the fourth row right in front of him to trulyenjoy his stage presence complete with swaying hips while he strummed. The vocals oflead singer, Dan Wilson, are unique, at times deep and monotone, at times a shrillfalsetto. From Minneapolis, this threesome combinesaccomplished guitars with keyboards for a uniquely pleasing sound. One of my new (yet old) favorites, Semisonic includes members of thedefunct band, Trip Shakespeare. Closing with the cute "Too Young Fora Boyfriend", this group was a strong beginning for what the rest of the eveningheld. Their sound is often a hard rocking one with strongguitars, much like that of Urge Overkill. The lead singer, Mark Kano, has a clear, deep, sexy voice,reminding me a bit of Crash Test Dummies, and a beautiful smile as he acknowledged thescreaming girls in the crowd. Itis a great pop/rock song with a catchy hook, about maturing in a relationship andrealizing what you lost.
They currently have the hit"What I Didn't Know" that is enjoying much radio play here in Houston. I always say that "music isn't about my personal comfort, it's about theart", and this night put that to the test, but was well worth any inconvenience I mayhave encountered.Īthenaeum is a greatgroup from Greensboro, NC (love those NC bands). Enduring record breaking heat and humidity, my friend and I werecompletely drenched in perspiration by the time opening act, Athenaeum, took thestage. I took the first flight out on Sunday morning to get back to Houston intime to enjoy a couple of the rides at Astroworld and then go to this show at the SouthernStar Ampitheater. Comingup on a Sunday night, I had spent the weekend in Toronto at the NXNEfestival. Let me tell you how much I actually wanted to see this show.