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I have heard whispers that Northern Virginia was a haven for transplanted residents of Pittsburgh, but I have always been skeptical of this. If anyone ever needed proof of this fact, however, he would merely need to visit a small Arlington club called Iota the next time the Clarks are in town. Pittsburgh's most talented musical export roared back into Virginia on June 17, playing a venue packed with die-hard fans who all likely have called Pittsburgh home at some time or another. The Clarks delighted the masses with a staggering twenty-five songs, including over 90% of their new album, Let It Go, jamming into the wee hours of the night.
Someone please explain to me why the Clarks have yet to achieve national fame. Listening to current hot bands such as 3 Doors Down and Stroke 9, I cannot fathom why the Clarks have not been able to achieve similar success. For whatever reason, that means that it is up to those fans who have been immersed in the experience to share it with others. Being a native of "The 'Burgh," I took it upon myself to introduce some of my friends to the band when they last came to town in March. Of course, that only whetted my appetite, though luckily for me, the band returned a couple months later. Could the shows have been any more different? Possibly, though the set emphasis was completely new. Could the shows have been any better? Unlikely.
If anyone in attendance at Iota that night was pondering purchasing Let It Go, the band's first album since The Clarks Live, the decision would now be a foregone conclusion. The Clarks opened with five straight songs from the new album, including standouts "Better Off Without You" and "Highwire," before firing up the crowd with old favorite "Caroline." The opening montage did provide fans with a varied sampling of the sort of music found on Let It Go, and there was nothing but cheers from the loyal devotees. One song later, the band returned to the new album, highlighted by bass player Greg Joseph's "Butterflies and Airplanes," a song that provides a nice, folksy change of pace from lead singer Scott Blasey. After that, though, it was time for some Clarks classics, and the band most certainly delivered.
What song first propelled the Clarks to local prominence? "Penny on the Floor," a song which debuted nine years ago, brought the Clarks to the forefront of the Pittsburgh local music scene, and its power infected this very excitable crowd. Blasey then delivered one of his solo numbers, "Brand New," a personal favorite of mine, before running off "Three Wishes" and "Courtney." By this point, the crowd was rather animated, but this state would seem rather sedate compared to the pulsating energy eminent upon the opening chords of "Cigarette." The band's signature song and the set's final number brought the excitement level up another notch, causing this fan to wonder how the encore could possibly top it. A rollicking "Chasin' Girls," another new number, and the appropriately named "Last Call" did just that. As the crowd spilled in the streets on a warm summer night, the only pertinent question seemed to be: When are the Clarks coming back?
Setlist:
Encore:
Submitted 6/18/00.
If you have any questions or comments about this or any other concert, please feel free to e-mail me.