The Land Down Under

One does not simply see the band Fighting Gravity, one experiences their music. As a novice fan of the group, I learned this firsthand during Fighting Gravity's year-end show in Arlington, VA. Following an effective opening set by Cinema 8, Fighting Gravity tore through nearly two-and-a-half hours of band favorites and inspired covers. (How many bands would dare to cover both Black Sabbath's "Crazy Train" and Men at Work's "Down Under?" Of those, how many could actually pull it off without a hitch?) Fighting Gravity brought down the house, rocking the Clarendon Ballroom from the opening minutes all the way through the band's exhilarating - and unending! - encore.

Fighting Gravity has been alternately described as everything from punk-rock to ska, and the truth of the matter is that I am not really sure how to describe this band. I will defer to the band's own web-site, where Fighting Gravity's sound is referred to as a "rock-ska combo." Whatever the classification, Fighting Gravity knows how to party. The band displayed its high-energy style throughout the set, rarely pausing for so much as a ballad and never taking a break from running and hopping about the stage. Frontman Schiavone McGee, blessed with gravity-defying hops (pun intended), led the charge, although nothing quite matches the synchronized bounces he delivered with guitarist Rich Stine and bassist David Peterson.

While the show itself was sure to energize, fans came for the music, and on this night, Fighting Gravity did not disappoint. Favorites such as "Colors on the Wall" and "Forgotten" littered the early portion of the show, delighting the band's devout following and paving the way for a thrilling second half. Personal highlight "Julula," which the band apparently dusted off for the occasion, shook the floor, with delirious fans hopping up and down throughout. Audience euphoria continued through numbers like "Socks and a Smile", "Mash It Up," and the classic "Holiday." Add in a Kinks cover and a surprising rendition of Onyx's "Slam," and the show was pure adrenaline.

Nothing in the show's first two hours, though, could have prepared me for the powerful conclusion. After coming back on stage for a couple more songs, Fighting Gravity delivered a stirring "Missing Bells." As the audience echoed, "Calling out your name, calling out your name," the band thanked the crowd for a wonderful show. Even though the lights came on soon afterward, McGee told an ecstatic crowd that the band had one more number in them. Lights be damned, the band launched into "Down Under," an unusual selection yet a strangely fitting one. As the audience roared with delight, Fighting Gravity's set came to a gratifying close, and a new fan began dreaming of the next show.

Submitted 12/31/01.

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