Rusted Root Show Review

we had a chance to see Rusted Root last night at House of Blues (you know the place with the NO STICKER policy) and they did not disappoint.

This band has special meaning to me because it was a RR/RatDog show in Alpine Valley where I met my wife. We have tried to get back to a Root show since then and just have not been able to. We missed the last one because Beth was in Grad School at the time. I have seen a couple shows since then and have seen the Philly show on Mojo a couple of times.

The band has changed slightly since the last time I saw them but they still rock out pretty good. Gone was Jenn - she has started her own band and I also think John was gone. Added are two new guitarists and 2 new drummers.

This band is just plain fun - they seem to have fun on stage and it really looks like they are putting a lot of effort into their shows. They played for a little over 2 hours (about 20 songs) so it was well worth the $21 admission price. The venue is perfect for them - it was about 3/4 full and easy to get a good sight line with good acoustics.

The band played all the favorites: Cruel Sun (might be my fav RR song), Ecstasy, Voodoo, Virtual Reality and some songs from their not yet released album: Garbage Man(?), and Dancing in the Middle (very cool song). They also did this little crazy mix of a few songs - they start with a crazy guitar riff (I swear the guy was trying to get to Shakedown Street) that lead into Very Superstitious, then into Cat Turned Blue, All Along the Watchtower, back to Cat Turned Blue - kind of crazy but fun.

Michael (as freaky as he looks) plays a wicked acoustic and his awesome voice was sharp for the whole night. Liz might be one of the better singers I have heard in a while - she sings mostly back up but she is awesome, She has a solo album out that i migth take a runner on. She also plays a ton of instruments - I think we counted 12 by the time the night was over - More Cowbell Please!

I am not usually a big fan of ending a show on a cover tune but last night it might have worked - the second encore was Suspicious Minds - you know the song that Elvis recorded and made famous. It was fun, I usually prefer a band to play their own stuff in the encore but this was ok. The song always reminds me of the Las Vegas episode where the oriental guy sings with Wayne Newton.

Overall a very good show - give it a 7+. The crowd was the perfect size - the band jammed hard and fun was had by all. Can't wait for the new album.

side note: Other who have performed Suspicious Minds - PHISH, No Doubt, Dwight Yokum (soundtrack for Honeymoon in Vegas), Fine Young Cannibals, and some American Idol dude this season - he is no longer on the show.

See you at the next good show to come to town.