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A mere three months after I doubted whether or not the Clarks had the fan base to fill a venue the size of Washington’s 9:30 Club, the band went out and proved me wrong. With local college students back in force – and very much in attendance – the Clarks packed their recent show at the District’s most famous rock locale, delivering a performance that is sure to produce more visits in the future. More than ten years after the band’s inception, the Clarks continue to grow, and this effort was but the latest example. In fact, in the opinion of at least a couple fans, the Clarks’ most recent performance may have been their best yet.
For a concert that runs a mere ten dollars, anything above an average performance is considered a blessing. That being said, I am never one to turn down extra music, so an early arrival allowed me to listen to Juniper Lane, the latest local band to shine while opening for the Clarks. Singer Vivion Smith, she of the distinctive voice and soulful swaying, revved the crowd to a fevered pitch, setting the stage for the evening’s main act. It is not often I am so impressed by an opening act that I cannot help but purchase its music, but Juniper Lane proved an especially tasty treat, and I dare say I find myself looking forward to its next show. But on to the main act…
With three months of touring behind Another Happy Ending, the band’s latest album, the Clarks seem more and more confident in their new material. Opening offering “Superstar” makes an ideal jumping-off point for the show, and “Maybe” quickly reminds fans that the Clarks’ traditional sound is alive and well. Another Happy Ending’s songs have been fleshed out, so much so that they provided the opening and closing tunes, as well as part of the encore. Needless to say, the Clarks – and their adoring fans – have no doubt that their latest gems can stand up next to the old favorites.
As always, the Clarks manage to trot out some memorable cover tunes, this time pulling out a Replacements homage and Prince’s “Kiss.” “On Saturday,” the final song of the set, is a happy, little diddy, although maybe not as roaring as some more traditional closing numbers. Few could argue with the back-to-back might of “Boys Lie” and “Chasin’ Girls,” though, the meat of this show’s encore. Two of the band’s newer tunes, they seem to have relegated old standbys like “Last Call” to the sidelines. On this night, though, no one seemed to mind – the band was hopping, the crowd was jumping, and rock & roll was alive again.
Setlist:
Encore:
Submitted 9/16/02.
If you have any questions or comments about this or any other concert, please feel free to e-mail me.