Putting the “Concert Meter” to the Test
Man! It has been a little while since my last post. The semester has kind of taken over. Anyway….
As you may have noticed, my last post was about my concert meter (kind of lame, I know. What can I say, I’m a lame guy…). To explain, there are certain things that make a concert memorable for me, and those things have formed a kind of personal checklist to rate my concert experience. Spontaneity, crowd interaction, the band playing in the moment, and seeing them “change things up” are all parts of this checklist. These are certainly not the only things that make a good concert, and we all have our personal test, but I guess you get the picture. (Feel free to check out my previous blog to get some more detail about all of my different areas.) After writing last month’s blog, I got the chance a few nights ago to test my concert meter at Smith’s Olde Bar. The show was from a band called RAQ that I had seen years before as an opening act. I had heard them a few times since that time, had wanted to see them again for a while, but never got the chance until then. Almost totally forgetting what they sounded like, I thought that this would be a good chance to try to rate the show, and even do a kind of concert review.
Briefly, RAQ can be defined as a “jam band” in that much of their music is devoted to extended, improved segments of songs. Unlike many other jam bands, though, they are heavily rock oriented and have a tremendous talent for tightly composed song structures. They are actually quite progressive if nothing else. They are influenced by bands such as Phish, moe., and the Grateful Dead, but also bands like Zappa, Dream Theater, and Billy Cobham. All of these play a role in the sound of the of the band, and all could be heard that night. As usual with a band like this, the instrumental interplay shined throughout the night.
From the start, the band was on fire. They ripped through the first song and didn’t stop for until their set was over 2 plus hours later, high energy the whole night. Again, it had been a while, so I had no idea what to expect from their show. I also own none of their music, and really had heard only a few clips of their songs to remind me what they sounded like. Walking into the show “cold” was a rather interesting experience, as most of the time I know exactly what to expect. I must say, though, that I was impressed with the show.
The show opener was a high energy rendition of a Zappa tune called “I am the Slime.” To put it simply, the song was really well done. (I have to admit, that I have recently begun the arduous task of getting into Zappa. I am still unfamiliar with much of his material, although I am pretty knowledgeable on his general style. Anyway, this was not one that I recognized, and it was not until checking online that I discovered it was a Zappa Song. Oh well….) It was obvious throughout the night that they were heavily inspired by Zappa, so it comes to no surprise that they opened with a cover of his. The rest of the night carried this same energy and much of this same Zappa type sound. As the band sped through the rest of their set, the played another 15 songs. Towards the middle of the set the band did another two covers: one was another Zappa song, while the other was a ZZ Top song. Now, I know what you’re thinking: a little too much Zappa, right? Well, I can see as how you might say that, but I assure you, it was not too much Zappa, as the band really embellished that Zappa sound to make it their own. As a ZZ Top fan, “I’m bad, I’m nationwide” was a nice touch. The mid-set covers were great, but it was really the band’s own material that seem to captivate me the most.
The only song that I remember hearing at their show the last time was “Welcome to the Donkey Show.” With such an odd title and lyrics, how could I forget? The song was full of energy, just as I had remembered it, and after hoping to hear it again, it was a nice addition to the set. The rest of the songs had a similar sound and while the band extended 15 songs to a substantial length, the show seemed to fly by. The night was filled with moments of funky grooves, low pulsing techno like moments, dance-worthy melodies, and overall excellent musicianship from all four members. While the songs did sound similar at times, there was still a good amount of variety to the show. The final song of the set was an obvious fan favorite entitled “Brother From Another Mother” which carried on RAQ’s trademark funky, rock sound. For the encore, (which no touring band can go without) the band played a lighthearted bluegrass groove called “Coming Home.” Overall, the show was one of the better that I have seen, and seemed to rate highly on the coveted concert meter.
As with any good jam band, spontaneity is always its highest. RAQ was no exception. Throughout the night, they always seemed to be on their feet and in the moment. I never knew what to expect from song to song, and within the songs themselves. Each part felt fresh and new, and many probably were. I never got the feeling that the band was simply going through the motions (and being a musician, I can usually tell these types of things pretty quickly). There was also alot of interaction between the band members, and they looked like they were having fun. I also know that with RAQ, setlists are different every night. Songs within those setlists are also different every night. Simply put, RAQ got a strong rating on the concert meter. The show was filled with what I consider strong qualities. I will not only go to see them again, but will hold my meter to a new standard.
I give this show a 7.5/10. Pretty solid. Go see this band, you won’t be disappointed!
