Live - Strand Theater 3/12/2012, First Show - Dress Rehearsal Celebration!! Options

[OutToDry]

All pics and reviews here folks......It's a celebration ___________!!!!

[FishOutaWater]

My review continued.

So the band said that they wanted the hard core fans from this message board up front so that they can feed off of our energy. At least that is what I heard. Now I was at the last show at the Strand in 2004 and that show had very little energy. I remember sitting in my seat in the theater watching the show. Well this time, the band knew what it was doing cause all of us in the first couple of rows were not going to sit down all night. Fists in the air, screaming our head off, standing up... the people behind us had no choice. They had to stand up. And THE WHOLE THEATER WAS STANDING FOR THE ENTIRE SHOW. The energy level made the show. And I will get there in this review, but it is true that Chris forgot the lyrics to several songs. He also seemed a little nervous and tentative at times - this being his first time fronting this band before an audience. in front of their families, their friends, their biggest fans, the press, the community. Now I may have been dreaming this, but I think that Chris was looking to Zman and others in the front row to sing along and feed him the energy and the support that pushed him farther and farther into the performance.

The lights went down and the synthesizer started. It became apparent that it was The Dam At Otter Creek. The band took the stage in the dark. At this point the place was going nuts. I had so much excitement coursing through me that I swear I was shaking. I was literally shaking uncontrollably and I couldn't hold my camera still. I had goosebumps. I was proud of CCP. I was excited. And I felt like I was witnessing something special and unique. The nice lady next me told me that she was tearing up.

When the new unannounced lead singer took the stage, and they began to perform Dam At Otter Creek, he stayed in a silhouette. You just saw this through the beginning of the song...







Gee. Who could that guy be? I know his name starts with a "C" from the T shirt I saw in the lobby.

Then the "big reveal". The spotlights went up and the band was RIPPING a rendition of Dam aAt Otter Creek that would tear your socks off. I mean these guys were like wild animals let out of a cage. Honestly, the first song of the night was the best song and the best moment of the whole night. The band was roaring. They were tight. They was pumped to be there. They were clearly trying to make a statement right out of the gate that Live was back, that they were proud and excited to perform with their new lead singer, and it was all for the music, the fans, the families and the community. Holy sh*t I have never seen a performance like The Damn At Otter Creek. Chris was running around with the megaphone and posing and screaming, and there was stomping and drumming and guitars ripping. The crowd was insane. What a way to start a concert!

Next up was All over you and then Lakini's Juice. I could see it coming, because the green glow of Ruby Lou being handed to Chad Taylor made it obvious. They played Lakini's Juice a little slower than usual, and if I could make a recommendation - if anything they should play it faster! Especially after the energy of the first two songs.

Chris Shinn brings tremendous energy and passion. He was screaming and singing and stalking around the stage like a tiger in a cage. This is how Live was supposed to perform for the last 10 years.

Here are a few more photos:

















To be continued. I have to break this up...

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Mar 13 2012, 4:54 pm