Reviews

Wild show July 29th at the Molson Center in Montreal. Or rather, Wilde show, as rock's newest saviours, Live, staged their version of The Earnestness of Being Important for 7,200 true believers. The story goes back 5 months, to the Metropolis (also in Montreal) and a February deification. While the rest of modern FM rock languished in its anguish and torpor, Live's Edward Kowalczyk took on the packed club and offered the meat and meaning of his quasi-religious anthems. Anyone present that night could see it was a matter of the briefest delay before the band would move from the sacristy to the chapel proper. July 29th, they were received with a Jesus welcome. "Much thanks to Holly McNarland and Luscious Jackson for setting a serious vibe in this place", Kowalczyk said of the opening acts. "I can feel it..". As luck would have it, those are the key words in 'Lightning Crashes', already embraced as a 90's rock statement and the centerpiece of the concert. Before that, Live built through the rest of its climaxes. Gothic green mood lighting and a bass throb announced 'Rattlesnake' and a newly blond Kowalczyk, every inch the messianic rock star. The stage set, in gold and with descending chandeliers, was vaguely Eastern. With their backs to the crowd,band members prepared themselves for the 10,000 pound stomp of 'Lakini's Juice'. The concert unfolded as an essay on an audience's desperation for significance. Live is all huge major chords, rigid conviction and a palpable lust for tremendousness. Kowalczyk displayed a Rush-like flair for message, an intellectual testosterone that, in the absence of any real competition, stands as rock's mainstream hard-line. This is not as bad, or as good as it seems. Live's portentousness comes with choruses and without any jackoff guitar. On the other hand, Kowalczyk ministers to his people with a seriousness that begs for a comedown. Not many present in the crowd would agree with that sentiment. With Bono on vacation in Irony Camp, save-your-life rock needs a leader. Kowalczyk gives every indication of being up to that challenge. More than 7,200 walked away from his efforts convinced they had witnessed the Second Coming. The math is wrong, but the spirit is close.
MIKE McDONALD

During their last visit to Connecticut, +Live+ offered it's fans a treat: an advanced screening of the songs from their new album, and at an intimate venue at that. It's not everyday that a major rock band comes to New Haven's Toad's Place, the area's hotbet for up-and-coming acts. But on that cold night in mid-February, the York, PA quartet did just that in a surprise warm-up gig for their upcoming Secret Samadhi World Tour,which pulled into The Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford this Friday. The setting was vastly different, as was the atmosphere. The set included what looked to be an attempt at recreation of a Gothic church, complete with chandeliers and large arches looming over the stage. Until the stunning light show began with 'Rattlesnake', things looked pretty ridiculous, but as the show went on it was clear that the peanut butter cup-esque chandeliers were designed to catch and reflect the lights and enhance the audience's visual experience. The show hit it's stride with 'Lakini's Juice', and never looked back as +Live+ whipped out hit after hit, mixed with lesser-known Samadhi tracks which quickly gained the acceptance of the large audience.
Unlike the first couple of nights from the Summer leg of the tour, the show went off without a hitch. Manbreak, a last minute replacement for the Fun Lovin' Criminals, won over sections of the audience as a harder-edged, British version of the widely popular 311. Their mix of rock, rap, and hip-hop set the stage for Luscious Jackson. The New York quartet took the stage with an additional percussionist and their very own DJ in what they described as their very first Connecticut appearance. Bringing portions of the crowd to its feet with it's hip-hoppy rock tracks, the gals from LJ set the stage amicably for the guys from +Live+.
+Live+'s set was a whirlwind journey through it's hits from 1994's Throwing Copper and most of the tracks from this year's Secret Samadhi. After tearing through 'Rattlesnake' and 'Lakini's Juice', the band pleased the crowd with 'Selling the Drama'.
The light show reached it's peak in high energy songs such as 'Unsheathed' and 'Iris', while the band demonstrated it's ability to maintain its rapture over the crowd during the spiritual 'Ghost' and power devotion ballad 'Turn My Head'. Before closing their initial set with 'Lightning Crashes' (picture a crowd of 20,000+, lighters in hand, singing this one), the band found time to revisit their past with a riveting, rollercoaster version of their breakthrough hit 'Operation Spirit'. Disappointingly, this was the only song +Live+ would play from their first record, 'Mental Jewelry', on this night.
Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk didn't need to say much to connect with the audience, which is the beauty of +Live+'s music. It speaks for itself. As the band took the stage for it's first encore, it was obvious just how much fun they were having. Breaking into 'HeroPsychoDreamer',Bassist Pat Dahlheimer stepped to the forefront before Chad Taylor introduced the grind of the guitar. Chad Gracey seemed to be suspended in mid-air above his bandmates, splintering drumsticks and captivating all the drummers in the audience throughout the night. The encore busted into first gear with 'I Alone', before winding down with the epic 'Gas Hed goes West'. During a rare moment of humor, Gracey stopped playing just a few bars into the song, and after substantial heckling from the band they restarted and churned it out beautifully. As Kowalczyk would later explain, "I don't even think he knows why, but maybe subconsciously he didn't want to play that song". As the band returned for a second encore, something special was in the air. Kowalczyk and Dahlheimer took the stage first to perform a stunning version of 'Merica' before the rest of the band came out and broke into their trademark closer, 'White, Discussion'. After the six minute song appeared to be over, Kowalczyk and Taylor left the rhythm section on the stage to play away. Taylor returned a few minutes later and the band broke right back into the song, and Kowalczyk was soon to follow. Ridden of his black shirt, the singer ran onto the stage donning a string of purple feathers, which he proceeded to drape over Taylor's head as he paraded around the stage. As the band said their final goodbye's, a sense of satisfaction overcame the crowd, and anticipation began to build for the next time that +Live+ visits town.
BRIAN LEE

What a beautiful night for a concert on the mountain, the skies were clear, the temperature was warm with a slight breeze blowing through. The crowd was electric with anticipation. The first up was MANBREAK, from England I believe. They were not too bad for a band I've never heard of before. After that Luscious Jackson took the stage, these girls know how to rock! Now the time had come for LIVE, the crowd seemed to get very quiet, just waiting and watching, hoping to get a glimpse of the band before they came onstage. During this time the set is being unveiled, large black drapes, with gold chandeliers hanging from above, slightly gothic in appearance. Then the lights went down and the band came on and with the first strum of Chad's guitar the entire crowd was up and on their seats, dancing and jumping and enjoying every minute of it. The show was superb! It's been 3 years since the last time I've seen LIVE, they've matured and come together as a band, Ed's stage presence is overwhelming, the light show and stage performance was just awesome! The line up of songs was a great mix of tunes from Throwing Copper and Secret Samadhi. The last song they performed, I won't say what it was, but it lasted for 10 minutes and it brought the house DOWN! Chad was tossing out his drumsticks at the end, one came within 5 feet of us, so we all took a dive, but came up empty handed :( I suggest the live tour for any one who enjoys a good show and good music. I know some LIVE fans didn't like the SS CD as much as TC. My advice to you GO SEE THE SHOW, you'll come away with a new appreciation for Secret Samadhi.
ALI CARDONE

The day started out with little rain, I was worried that it was going to rain during the concert. (But not so worried, because I had third row seats) But it stopped just shortly before the concert was going to begin. During Manbreak, not even half of the seats were filled. I liked some of their songs. More people started coming in for Luscious Jackson. They got some of the crowd dancing (including me). The lead singer and the drummer put on a nice little show of aerobics, which was pretty funny, during one of their last songs. They even surprised the rest of their band.
Finally Live came on. Most of the seats were filled, it looked like the people had just come down to see Live. Everybody stood up out of their seats as soon as they came on. I don't remember the set list, but I know that they started with 'Rattlesnake' and ended with 'White, Discussion', and included (I'm pretty sure) the first encore of 'Merica' and 'Gas Hed goes West', and a second encore of 'White, Discussion'. Including Ed Kowalczyk's (lead singer) purple sequin shirt and boa. The concert was spectacular. Live put put so much energy. By the second song, Ed had taken off his jacket and was already sweating through his shirt. The background of the set was so cleverly exposed when the second or third song picked up (I don't remember which song it was). The black drapes fell down with a big flash of light. The set design and "light show" were brilliant. Everything seemed to go together really well. Everyone was really into it, dancing and screaming. Live put out such a good show. They played most of their songs from Secret Samadhi, and a couple from Throwing Copper. But they didn't play anything from Mental Jewelry. Everyone knew the songs from 'Throwing Copper', but the crowd slowed down a bit for some songs from Secret Samadhi. I guess now they will have to go out and buy the new album ; )
Ed changed some lyrics in a couple songs, which was a nice surprise. But some people didn't catch it, probably because they haven't heard the songs as much as I have (being the huge fan I am). He changed 'Geraldo' to 'Sally Jessie Raphael' in 'Freaks'.(Do they know their names are used in a song?) Ed also changed 'the crowd is clapping', (or something to that extent) in 'Century', because we were clapping : ) Overall, the show was one of the best concerts I have been to (due in part to my close view of the stage). In the band were Chad Taylor on guitar, Patrick Dahlheimer on bass, and Chad Gracey on drums. Everyone did well playing. Chad T and Pat looked like they were having a good time. They talked to each other at times and laughed. I've heard from a friend that Pat burped really loud during 'Merica', which made Ed laugh a little bit. Chad G looked like he was working hard. I remember when Ed got up behind him and when he came back down, he stole some of his water. The whole band was in a good mood that night. And it was an awesome night to remember.
JOYCE CHAN