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Where the Streets Have No Name

Fighting Gravity is not a household name anywhere outside of Richmond, VA, and I am not so sure that is a bad thing. The band’s low profile, despite success touring the mid-Atlantic area for over a decade, keeps ticket prices reasonable and ensures small but devoted crowds. The band’s recent performance at the 9:30 Club had just such a crowd, one that huddled around the stage and cheered on the fun-loving musicians. The band responded in kind, delivering an eclectic set featuring some old and new tunes. Lead singer Schiavone McGee and company even pulled out two U2 covers, much to the surprise and delight of the fans in attendance.

Seeing Fighting Gravity in concert – this performance was my seventh – is such a thrilling experience that I have always been surprised that the band has not had more success. Granted, the band’s sound is not exactly radio-friendly, but Fighting Gravity would seem to be one of those artists whose name is made via live performances. Personally, I have never been disappointed in any of their efforts, which is why the smallish crowd at the 9:30 club was somewhat disheartening. Midway through the show, though, the rafters had thinned and the loyal partisans had pushed forward towards the stage. What remained was an enthusiastic crowd chanting along to all the Fighting Gravity tunes, both old and new.

Hyping their latest album, Fighting Gravity featured a liberal dose of new material. New is relative, of course, as the band has been playing a number of these songs for almost two years now. “Fooled Again” and “America,” delivered early in the show’s initial rock quintet, had fans hopping, especially the former, whose chorus elicited screams from the audience. McGee then slowed things down, delivering a pair of acoustic numbers, one even featuring drummer Mike Boyd on guitar. These would lead into the opening chords of “Bad,” the mid-1980s U2 classic that faded nicely into “Mission Bells,” one of the evening’s true crowd favorites.

The newness theme continued as the set closed out, as Fighting Gravity dropped “Lost Our Way,” “I Disagree,” and “Simple Life” in near rapid succession. For its final number, the band showed once again why its live performances are so spectacular. While roaring through “Mash It Up,” brass specialist John Utley delivered his trademark rendition of “Slam,” the decade-old rap hit by Onyx. This was topped only by the encore, during which the band doled out both U2 and Cheap Trick. The former was represented by “Where the Streets Have No Name,” a searing display that should have been the sole encore. Having seen U2 twice, I would dare not suggest that Fighting Gravity’s version is better, but it is one of the best covers I have seen. Those remaining could only smile with glee at the wonderful show Fighting Gravity had delivered once again.

Setlist:

•  Colors on the Wall
•  Breathing
•  Fooled Again
•  Bend the Light
•  America
•  Home
•  Message
•  Mission Bells (Bad intro)
•  Forgotten
•  Hideaway
•  Lost Our Way
•  Freedom
•  Holiday
•  I Disagree
•  Simple Life
•  Mash It Up (Slam interlude)

Encore:

•  Where the Streets Have No Name
•  I Want You to Want Me

Submitted 9/8/03.

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