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Another Happy Ending

Watching the Clarks evolve from a small Western Pennsylvania group into one with a following throughout various spots in the Midwest and along the Eastern seaboard has been a true delight over the past couple of years. Beginning with the release of Let It Go a couple years back, the Clarks have visited the DC metro area quite frequently, culminating in the recent headlining show at the storied 9:30 Club. Touting the release of their new album Another Happy Ending, the Clarks certainly had an agenda for their largest DC show to date, but that did not prevent them from giving their fans the sort of rocking show we have all come to expect.

After a thrashing opening bit by Ki Theory and a jamming set by local band Boogiehawg, the Clarks hit the stage, delivering the first of what would be many Another Happy Ending tunes. "Superstar," a song owing much to the Wallflowers (as astutely spied by the Washington Post), kicked things off, although the crowd was not truly drawn in until "Better Off Without You," the big hit from Let It Go, rang through the air. What followed was a back-and-forth battle between Let It Go and Another Happy Ending for control of the evening. One album would offer a pair of tunes before the other would counter with a pair of its own, leading to a dizzying display.

Of the new offerings, highlights included "Maybe," current radio hit "Hey You," and the snappy "Boys Lie," the encore's final number. These all hint at a lot of promise for the band's forthcoming album, as well as a summer of touring. More impressively, the arrival of these new songs showcased the growth of the Let It Go tunes over the past two years. Whereas it seems difficult to imagine the Clarks surviving a set two years ago with barely any nineties' tunes, the show at the 9:30 Club seemed perfectly logical. "Born Too Late," a late bloomer on Pittsburgh radio throughout the past year, is just one example of an album really coming into its own with time and road seasoning.

The most interesting aspect of the Clarks' most recent stop in DC had to be the band's change in venue. Moving from tiny Iota in Arlington to the 9:30 Club in downtown Washington in two years is quite an achievement for a band still lacking a national following. While the venue seemed necessary to accommodate the band's growing legion of fans, the Clarks might not be ready to handle an establishment of that size just yet. That being said, with only a few notable exceptions, the fans were generally enthusiastic and clearly representing Pittsburgh to the fullest. With closing numbers "Penny on the Floor" and "Boys Lie," the Clarks spanned the duration of their career, letting us know that, after a decade of rocking, the band can still bring down the house.

Setlist:

•  Superstar
•  Better Off Without You
•  Maybe
•  Think of England
•  This Old House Is Burning Down Tonight
•  Love Is What You Need
•  Snowman
•  I'm a Fool
•  All the Things I Wanted
•  Kiss
•  Born Too Late
•  Hey You
•  Brand New
•  Cigarette
•  Wasting Time
•  Highwire
•  Let It Go
•  Butterflies and Airplanes
•  Chasin' Girls
•  Help Me Out

Encore:

•  Penny on the Floor
•  Boys Lie

Submitted 6/7/02.

If you have any questions or comments about this or any other concert, please feel free to e-mail me.