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For all the times that I had seen the Clarks perform live, it was not until Thanksgiving 2001 that I finally saw them perform in Pittsburgh. While this brought with it a fresh wave of excitement, I must say that I was actually somewhat disappointed. Not with the band, mind you - Scott Blasey and the boys actually broke with tradition and trotted out a couple of the new numbers they are working on in the studio. The fans were the ones who let me down! The rush I have felt at Arlington's Iota easily exceeds the vibe that I got from Pittsburgh's Club Laga. The audience seemed to be going through the motions, at least until the band began winding down the set, at which point even the mellowest soul could be seen singing and dancing.
Let It Go can hardly be considered new material any more, but, with the band barely acknowledging the release of Strikes & Gutters earlier this year, it still yields the majority of the concert staples. While a number of these songs have grown on me and continue to do so, it is with some sadness that I note the passing of such concert mainstays as "Courtney" and "Caroline." Rocking twins "Snowman" and "Highwire" invariably pop up at the beginning of most shows, and this was no exception. It may say something about how often I have seen the band that I sometimes consider these two to be old favorites. The surprises began shortly thereafter, as the Clarks offered a sample of things to come.
A string of newer offerings, wrapped around favorites like "Better Off Without You" and an early "Cigarette," culminated with the appearance of "Queen of America." This fresh tune, which features wildly varying decibel levels between the chorus and the verses, got the crowd involved again and bodes well for the forthcoming album. With its roster of new songs already delivered, the Clarks returned to some traditional hits, including personal favorite "Butterflies & Airplanes" and Pittsburgh radio staple "Born Too Late." A so-so closing duo left the audience begging for more, as chants of "Penny" and "Girls" soon rang out. As was suspected, the Clarks would soon see to their fans' needs.
"Penny on the Floor" may be ten years old and incredibly mellow, but the song still packs the punch it did some time ago. What it did, though, was lead into one of the night's true treats, new offering "Boys Lie." I found myself yelling along with the rest of the crowd as Blasey roared through the sing-along chorus. Of course, nothing compared to the noise level which greeted the opening chords of "Chasin' Girls," a song which must now be considered one of the band's top numbers. The always-involving "Let's Get It On" almost seemed to be a letdown by comparison, but this unprecedented encore sure got the energy flowing. During a holiday season in which we have a lot to be thankful for, allow me to extend a small bit of thanks to Pittsburgh's finest rock band - the Clarks.
Setlist:
Encore:
Submitted 11/29/01.
If you have any questions or comments about this or any other concert, please feel free to e-mail me.