LIVE IN CONCERT!

FASTBALL With Special Guests Fat Amy & Sherri Jackson

Reviewed by Jill Williams Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH 4/15/98

When I walked into the Newport on tax day, it was like a completely different place. The back of the hall was blocked off with black curtains, which was unusual, but what really shocked me were all the tables and chairs set up with candles on them, and the fact that people were to walk around with beer bottles. This is a place where the audience is known for throwing things at the band members on stage. In this case, however, the crowd was subdued and appreciative throughout the show. These were the first of many pleasant surprises in an evening I'll remember when reflecting on some of the most pleasant moments of my life. One of the first things I noticed, as "Fat Amy" took the stage, was although the atmosphere of the Newport had changed on this night, the sound system was still terrible. For this reason, and not being familiar with the band, I wasn't able to really pick out the titles of many songs. I certainly intend to become more familiar with them though, since they were a really terrific band. I was really impressed with the mellow, soulful sound and out of this world vocals. It turns out they were going to my home town the next day, which, had I known beforehand, I would have followed them down to catch their set again. The rest of their tour is scheduled throughout Michigan, opening for a variety of bands, so if you get the chance, go check them out. This was definitely the best opening band I've heard since I started covering concerts. The song titles I did catch were "Bourbon," a nice tune that's getting some air play around here these days, and "All That I Wanna Hear," a fairly slow and lovely song that I'd probably have to call my favorite of theirs. They also played "November" which was wonderful, but I couldn't begin to tell you what it was about. Just couldn't make out the words. All of their songs had a similar feel and style, but the music was varied and made each new song a terrific experience. Next up was another amazing act. "Sherri Jackson" mixed various elements of R&B, southern folk music, and Carribean and jungle beats in what made for a very inspiring, fun, and wonderful set. Jackson's voice is strong and beautiful, not to mention her skill with the electric violin and guitar. The first song, "Commitment," was fast and hard with a taste of reggae. Though it was one of her least impressive songs, at the time I had no idea what who she was or what I was in for.  I loved it. Things just got better from there! The only downside to her performance was that the sound guy was really out to lunch. She would start a song and her microphone would be turned off or down. It was extremely annoying. As wonderful as her singing was, what seemed to impress people most was the drums. They were so strong, and they carried the songs in a way not often heard. Rather than just keeping the beat, they made up the essence of the music. One of the most beautiful songs was "Save The World." Slow, loud, and touching, it really grabbed you and made you think. The cover of "Fire" by Hendrix was a joy as well, although Sherri let her backup singer take the lead on this one. It was a nice change of pace and he's also a great vocalist. The last song of the set was "Rice And Beans," which had a very southern flavor as you might expect. They drew this one out, and were really creative with it. In fact, one part of the song sounded a lot like hardcore. It was a nice twist. I highly recommend seeing her show. She'll be playing several venues with Lillith Fair this year, so if you get the opportunity, don't miss Sherri Jackson.

During the intermission, I went out to sign up for the mailing lists of both opening bands, and got a chance to talk to Sherri Jackson and the lead singer of "Fat Amy." They were extremely nice people, who talked at length with their fans. I didn't speak with them for long, as I didn't want to take up too much of their time or miss any of the main event. I just let them know how much I enjoyed listening. "Fastball" came on stage without a lot of fanfare, and nothing fancy set-wise, which pretty much stayed that way through their set. They started off with a song I couldn't identify, which was a shame because it was lots of fun. From there they went through "Fire Escape" and "Warm Fuzzy Feeling." My first thoughts were that these guys sound really terrific live too, but the complexity and depth of the songs are lost a bit. I couldn't say for sure if it was because of the speakers, the idiot mixing the sound, or if it was just more difficult to duplicate their style outside of the studio. Regardless, I found myself singing every song, whether I knew it or not. "Fastball" can do that to you. Their music is so fun, even when it's serious, you can't help but want to jam along with them. They went on to sing "Damaged Goods," "Nowhere Road," and "Slow Drag," all wonderful songs. It's really impossible to say anything bad about this band. When they did "Seattle," from their first album, I was dancing all over the place. Next was their hit song "Are You Ready For The Fallout," which got this quiet crowd the most excited they'd been all night. My favorite song of the evening was "Outta My Head." That one really does something to me. I sway and sing and get all emotional whenever I hear it. When "The Way" started up, people really began to move. Of course, who wouldn't? You can't escape that song these days, but then again, why would you want to? It's just so much fun! From there they moved on to "Sooner Or Later" and a ZZ Top cover, "Thunderbird." By this time there wasn't a stationary butt in the house. They played "Human Torch" from their first CD just before exiting the stage. For an encore, "Fastball" returned with "Which Way To The Top," and that made my night! I was really looking forward to hearing that one live. It's such a powerful song, and seeing them live grabs you so much harder than just listening to the album. Where some of the technicality may be lost, it's more than made up for with the energy you feel from the band when they're standing in front of you, and the final song of the set was a version of "The Seeker" by "The Who." After the show I got the opportunity to talk briefly with the band. It didn't amount to much except for me saying how important their music was to me and that it was the best I'd reviewed since I started in this business. They were terrific but there were other fans trying to talk with them and my friends were trying to drag me off so I didn't get to talk at length. I had so much I wanted to say and ask, but it's hard in that type of situation so I headed on out into the stormy weather with a huge smile on my face and the thought that this was one night I'll never forget.

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