The National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj tour, featuring Jonny Lives! and Art Alexakis of Everclear, came to my school for an interview. Ksubseattle.org is nothing huge but we got Kal Penn, Jonny, and Art recorded with me as the media at their visit to Seattle University. Jonny and I became friends and exchanged email addresses. This took place in December and a few weeks later I was told they were coming to Portland on the Van Wilder tour with Everclear back together from a previous parting of original members. Jonny text messaged me that I was on the list and life seemed peachy as I jumped on a Greyhound bus towards a new town.
Everclear is a Portland based band, so you can tell this was going to be quite an event. Young and old stood in a line wrapped around the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland. I went to the box office, said I was on the list and must have seemed crazy. I walked across the street to Everyday Music and called Jonny, no answer. Depressed thoughts hit my head as I watched 13 year olds cross the street to go to the show. The show was sold out and the 8 year old inside of me was bummed.
Minutes later, Jonny Lives! manager called me and escorted me inside with an All-Access pass. Excellent, I’m in. Jonny meets with me and we talk about proper handshakes, global warming, and the record business. The debut album from the New York based group with the single “Get Steady” which is also the featured track for the Van Wilder soundtrack. Anyway, their show had plenty of behind the back guitar solos and crawls to the ground. Jonny charmed the very obvious Everclear fans with good, modern rock.
Everclear came out with a new album, Welcome to the Drama Club, yet only played three tracks (denoted by asterisk) from it. They played all the hits with noticeable passion. Art smiled as kids and adults crowd-surfed together to the classics and as bouncers jumped in after the happy fans. Plenty of fights broke out as fans jumped on the uniquely built venue floor of the Crystal Ballroom. Art announced to the crowd that the original members were back together just like it was 13 years ago starting out in Portland, Oregon.
Midway, Everclear covered a Rolling Stones song all with arms on each others shoulders and a tambourine. Art explained that when they opened for the Rolling Stones at the last tour, they were forbidden to cover a Stones song. So, with a laugh, the group came together and sang. As for the last song, Art invited a few ladies to jump onstage and dance. Freaked out Everclear fans, 14 year olds with braces, and moms alike joined the band and were all named Jenny for the night by Art. He wanted to sing to these ladies and as they danced along to the Tommy Tutone 80’s hit as I stood up there, snapping away pictures with a huge smile on my face.
Set List for Everclear
“Everything to Everyone”
“Amphetamine”
“Father of Mine”
“Heroin Girl”
“Hater“
“Portland Rain“
“Song from an American Movie”
“Strawberry” (A new song on Myspace.com/everclear)
Stones (Everclear did a cover of the Rolling Stones)
“Summerland”
“Sunflower”
“Learning to Smile”
“Glorious“
“Whore”
“Volvo Driving Soccer Mom”
“Wonderful”
“Santa Monica”
ENCORE
“So Much for the Afterglow”
“I Will Buy You a New Life”
ENCORE X2
“Jenny (867-5309)”
The band is back together and they are still pumped full of energy. Art is a true lead singer, and I must say, though I’ve seen acts like Depeche Mode, Radiohead, David Byrne, and Flaming lips, this was one of the best shows I’ve seen. Check them out; they’ll bring something back for you.
2.07.07
Do you have video of this show? I’m looking for live video of Jenny from this show….