Concert Review: The Badlees / Sister Hazel / Jared Campbell
My wife Melissa's birthday is next week, and as an early birthday gift we went to see a concert last night at the Whitaker Center's Sunoco Performance Theater featuring The Badlees, Sister Hazel, and Jared Campbell. Melissa has two of Sister Hazel's CDs, one of which seems to always be in her car, and we've heard The Badlees on the radio and at downtown events (but never stayed long enough to actually watch them). It turned out to be the best $20 show I've seen in a long time.
Jared Campbell (not the "Jared" from Subway -- "I love Arby's") was first up at 8PM, just he and his guitar. He joked with the audience before telling a quick story about the next song he was going to play. He was unaccompanied, but for the songs he was playing, it sounded just fine. His voice and the songs were enjoyable. He says he's making a record with members of The Badlees; I'm definitely interested in hearing it.
After a 15-minute intermission, Sister Hazel hit the stage. This was the first time I'd seen them live, aside from seeing them on the CBS Saturday Morning show a few years ago. The music sounded great, however the vocals were a little muddy. Lead singer Ken Block's voice wasn't allowed to cut through the rest of the mix. Bassist Jeff Beres' sound was cutting in and out from song to song, and I was very disappointed - I really liked his playing! Rhythm guitarist and vocalist Andrew Copeland's vocals sounded great, and he did a great Sting impersonation during a segue into the Police's "So Lonely". The band played many songs I recognized, but I haven't been a fan to the point where I know the words. I greatly enjoyed their hour-plus performance.
Before the show started, Melissa and I were still wondering who the headlining act was - Sister Hazel or The Badlees? The show was billed as "The Badlees with Sister Hazel", so we assumed The Badlees, but were very surprised that a regional act was headlining over a national one. Reading on SH's website today, I found that they split with their record company prior to making their current album. I guess that might explain why they aren't playing higher-profile shows. Don't take that comment wrong -- I think their performance was top-notch. After coming back from a stroll outside the theater, we noticed all the people getting the stage ready and thought "wow, they have a big crew." After a 25-minute intermission, the Badlees took the stage -- and we saw that most of the "crew" were the bandmembers themselves prepping their instruments!
The Badlees came out rocking hard. I only know two of their songs, "Angeline is Coming Home" and "Don't Let Me Hide" from the radio, but all of the stuff they played sounded great. I'm definitely going to pick up some of their CDs based on what I heard them play. Melissa thought vocalist Pete Palladino's voice sounded amazing the entire night, and he never let up or sounded tired. I particularly liked guitarist Bret Alexander's solo spot, where he sang a recent song he wrote called "These Are The People Who Own The World"; the lyrics spoke to me about someone trying to explain events like the war with Iraq to their kids. A great song; I see now that it's on their latest album Renew -- I'll have to check it out.
The entire band played great and entirely dispelled any notion I might have had of them not being a "Grade-A" band. They show that you don't have to be famous and sell millions of records to be talented, successful musicians. The Badlees have gained two new fans!