Semisonic played February 7th, 1999 with Remy Zero opening at the Cat's
Cradle in Carrboro, NC. This happens to be right where I live. This means
that I can no longer say that Chapel Hill is completely awful. The Cat's
Cradle happens to be a really tiny place, and this was a huge surprise
to me to find that Semisonic was coming here, because it's also where our
high schools have their annual "Battle of the Bands". Wierd or
what? However, because Semisonic had canceled their last show anywhere
near here (Raleigh, at the Roxy), I was overjoyed. Just ask any of my friends...
We got there pretty much on time/early and met Julia, despite
a slightly surreal problem while getting there. We went inside. I wanted
to cling to the front of the stage even while we were waiting, but the
rest of my group convinced me it would be ok if we just sat down for a
while. (picture of the three of them) When it
looked like Remy Zero was coming on, we went and squeezed up as close to
the front as we could. (about two or three people back) I'd never heard
of Remy Zero before, but they were very good, despite the lead singer being
sick, poor guy. They played for about an hour, and I have no idea
what they played since I didn't know any of their songs. Larissa really
liked them.
Soon, Semisonic was on. I don't think I've ever screamed louder even at
a hockey game :) They opened up with FNT from Great Divide, a nice fast-paced
song which was pretty appropriate to open up a show with. I don't remember
the exact order of the songs they played, but Singing in My Sleep (which
probably is my favorite song from the new album), Secret Smile, Never You
Mind, and Delicious I think were the ones they played next. After
they started playing, I really just kind of tuned everything else out (easy
to do) and sang along and bounced/danced/rocked. My friends could probably
tell you exactly how embarrassing I was, but I didn't care. After a little
speech on touring and flattery of us fans, they played If I Run (one of
the songs that originally got me hooked on Semisonic), Completely Pleased,
Made to Last, and She Spreads Her Wings. Once again, I'm not really sure
on the order of any of these, it was all just a haze of ecstasy. (and no,
I am not on drugs) Dan Wilson started talking about a friend of his as
an intro to Down In Flames, (I'm pretty sure) then someone shouted out
Free Bird, and they ended up playing DND after Dan joked about that.
All Worked Out was played after an anecdote about commitment in which the
audience was advised to "surrender" to it, and at some point
they covered Erotic City. However, that really threw me off because I'd
never heard it before, and I didn't know what it was they'd played until
I got the Singing in My Sleep single-or-sorts. They played Closing Time
to close out the show, but it was merely a nod to its popularity. Everything
else was overwhelming as it was. They came back to do encores, I think
three of them, two of which were This Will be My Year and In Another Life.
(I can't remember the other one) Semisonic was just incredible live. Maybe
I only say that because I'm such a huge fan, but they were great. Dan Wilson's
showmanship is absolutely great. His hip-swinging was to die for, and he
had the audience eating out of his hand the whole time, getting us to sing
the background of Made to Last as "angels" and the "yeah
yeah yeah" chorus of Delicious. I loved the disco ball and strobe
lights too. If I had a thing for Semisonic before, now it's an obsession...I
think my new goal is to meet them.
Thanks to Julia (St. Julia ;) again for staying
for the whole show and giving me a ride back!
