Concert Review: The Cult @ Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH (5/23/01)

This show was something of a personal disaster, and it probably a strong contender for why I don't enjoy going to big venues for shows. Isn't that a fantastic way to start a concert review?

I was never a huge fan of The Cult. I liked a few songs off of Sonic Temple, Love and Electric, but I was actually more of a fan of their odd 1994 self-titled album, as well as Ian Astbury's solo Sprit/Light/Speed from 2000. In the spring of 2001, the new album Beyond Good And Evil was still a few months away from being released, but it was a big deal the band was back together after several years apart, and the first single "Rise" caught my attention. Yes, it had the big Bob Rock production and down-tuned guitars, things that would usually turn me off, however in this instance, I was psyched. So when my friends and bandmates Keith and Jason were getting tickets, I said count me in.

As a concert goer, I tend to be pretty chill. I just want to stand, nod my head a bit, enjoy the music and performance. As soon as we walked in and found a spot on the floor, I knew this was not going to be that kind of evening. Maybe it was the hard rock vibe the band gave off, though I always thought of them as a bit more artsy and adventurous, but the crowd was full of amp'd up assholes. The kind of guys shoving through the crowd, looking to agitate someone into a confrontation. I have never understood that inclination, and I was immediately on edge as The Cult started, opening with the single "Rise."

Concert Review: The Sheila Divine, Columbus, OH (2000-2001)

The Sheila Divine @ Little Brothers, 3/15/00
Our Lady Peace and The Sheila Divine @ the Newport Music Hall, 4/16/01
The Sheila Divine & Miranda Sound @ Little Brothers, 11/4/01

Like Cursive, I saw The Sheila Divine more than a few times over a short span, so the memories sort of blur together. The first show was definitely thanks to local radio station CD101 playing their single Hum repeatedly, and that was enough to get plenty of us to the show.

The opening slot for Our Lady Peace, well to be honest, I had sort of soured on Our Lady Peace by this point. There first record was great, and the second fine, though definitely aimed at writing more singles. Two albums later, the band was definitely in a bit of rut, and only a year later the band would make the cringe-inducing Gravity, a stab at wannabe Creed/Nickleback third generation grunge that the band quickly abandoned.

The third show, second at Little Brothers, was a big deal in that our friends in Miranda Sound opened. Opening for touring regional or nation bands was a big deal, and at the time, since our band and Miranda Sound were both new to the scene, landing any opening gig was monumental.

Concert Review: Jay Farrar @ Little Brothers, Columbus, OH (10/3/01)

Make no mistake, I’m a huge Jay Farrar fan. Uncle Tupelo? Love all those records. Son Volt? The first two are favorites, since then it’s been diminishing returns. The solo output. Well, I dig the first one, and that’s when this show happened, combining material from all three phases of his career. Since then, my attention has wandered, listening to a new release once or twice and then tossing it aside.

This particular show was just Jay and a guitar, joined by an additional multi-instrumentalist on a few songs. When I saw Jay a few years earlier fronting Son Volt, he was, for the most part, reserved and stoic through the whole show. Take away the energy of loud bass, gutiars and drums, and Jay was even more reserved. There was very little talking, sometimes four or five songs would run into each other, only interrupted by a guitar or tuning change, at which point Jay would mumble something inaudible into the microphone.

Despite the onstage frostiness, after the show Jay sat on the edge of the stage for quite some time signing autographs and talking with fans. He was friendly and engaging, an interesting contrast to his onstage persona.