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It seems like only yesterday that the Clarks last dropped by Iota, Arlington's foremost music venue. "Yesterday" was in fact less than two months prior, not that anyone attending this energetic August concert was complaining. The Pittsburgh rockers popped by the DC metro area four times during the summer, exposing more and more fans to a style of rock & roll that is sorely lacking in today's music scene. For one night, at least, fans got to experience old-fashioned guitar licks, pounding drums, and catchy lyrics. That, my friends, is what the Clarks are all about.
While Let It Go, the band's first release with new label Razor & Tie, had not yet hit stores at the time of their last Iota show, The Clarks gave their fans a full helping of the new material. This performance was no different, right down to the sequence of the first five songs. Though I was a little skeptical at first, "Snowman" has proven to be a solid, if unspectacular, show opener. After a brief introduction and some hearty greetings, lead vocalist Scott Blasey led the band through two of the new album's best offerings, "I'm a Fool" and "Better Off Without You." Once again, the band chose to deliver a slew of newer tunes before delving into an extensive musical archive.
The Clarks perform their fair share of unusual covers, but Prince's "Kiss" might just take the cake. "Kiss," which did not make the cut at the band's last Iota show, proved to be a real winner with this crowd, as was "Courtney," which followed shortly after it. Both songs are traditional concert favorites, whipping the crowd into a frenzied state before hitting them with a bevy of older hits. A disappointing "Penny on the Floor" slowed down the pace, but things quickly picked up again when bassist Greg Joseph jammed through "Butterflies & Airplanes." While still a fresh number, "Butterflies" already seems to be on track to become one of the band's most popular efforts. A pair of older songs then set the stage for a staggering conclusion, one which had everyone screaming and dancing with delight.
"Mercury" and "Let It Go" provided a perfect lead-in for "Cigarette," one of the high points of this show. "Cigarette" brought even the casual fans to the fore, eliciting raucous singing from all in attendance. A thirty-second break - which had to be a record for quickest encore return - gave way to "Let's Get It On," another of the band's unusual covers. No one would ever mistake Blasey for Marvin Gaye, but the band has turned this R&B song into a genuine rock & roll hit. The shouted requests finally won the Clarks over after that, as the band ripped into "Chasin' Girls," a catchy, rollicking jam from the new album. Though "Last Call" actually closed out the impressive set, I found myself humming along with its immediate predecessor as I strolled out into the warm summer night: "I've been chasin' girls, I've been drinkin' beer, I've been getting stoned all year."
Setlist:
Encore:
Submitted 8/12/00.
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