Rolling Cef Concert Reviews

Volume II, Issue #4 (5/17/98)

See Jane Run
Friday May 1, 1998
Hotel Utah, San Francisco, CA

See Jane Run are a local band with a trio of women up front. The lead singer had great stage presence and the bass player was having a lot of fun. The lead guitarist looked a little nervous, but she kept her playing in check. Most songs started off sounding like straight-ahead pop/rock, but the singing usually took a different direction. It was an interesting change from what I'm used to.

Supersuckers w/ Kirk St. James Band and Slick Fifty
Saturday May 9, 1998
Transmission Theatre, San Francisco, CA

Fuckin' loud, but what an amazing set! Seattle's Supersuckers are a hard-drivin' guitar rock band with a little bit of country added in, and a lot of punk. From the start, they just grab you and hook you in. The mosh pit was insane. Loved the songs. Definitely a band to catch live!

The Kirk St. James Band was another absolutely kick-ass band from Texas. Kirk showed a lot a talent on lead vocals, and he has learned a thing or two from George Thorogood on guitar.

Slick Fifty were the sleeveless undershirt-wearing tattoo-bearing punk rockers from LA. Plenty of cloned fans were scattered in the crowd as well. Lead vocals were raw and harmony vocals were just sung at the same pitch as lead, but they had great punk songs and a good attitude.

Superdrag, Black Lab, Reel Big Fish, Ben Folds Five
Sunday May 10, 1998
Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA

This show was rescheduled for the outdoor amphitheatre from an arena, but they couldn't give enough free tickets away. Usually, going to see a concert in a big outdoor venue is "an event". I think this concert was better described as "a bunch of bands playing in a big outdoor venue."

Superdrag were cursed with the opening spot on a Sunday afternoon. They had catchy songs and were surprisingly my favorite act of the day. However, they didn't get much reaction from the under capacity crowd.

Black Lab played a strong set once again. They were happy to be playing Shoreline since several members grew up in the Bay Area.

I'm not a big ska fan, but Reel Big Fish had the young crowd jumpin' around and goin' nuts for the whole set. They got the biggest response and were definitely the favorites. Personally, I would have happier if they cut down on the HORNS!

Ben Folds Five provided annoying, high pitched vocals over the amphitheatre public address system. I admit there is a lot of talent in this trio, but I think they're better suited to a smaller jazz-club setting.

Box Set
Saturday May 16, 1998
Last Day Saloon, San Francisco, CA

Obviously very popular with the San Francisco crowd, they entertained a full house for two sets with a lot of catchy acoustic-based songs and tight harmonies. Their sound is similar to Memory Dean (see Volume II, SXSW Edition). Keyboards, though effective in some songs, were often over-bearing and should have been used more sparingly.

At the start of the second set, every member of the band changed instruments - lead guitar to keyboards, rhythm guitar to drums, bass to lead guitar, keyboards to bass, and drums to rhythm guitar. They played a ten-minute jam. It was one of the coolest things at a show I've ever seen.


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