CONCERT REVIEWS
Artist: Jann Arden
Location: Fredericton, NB (Aitken Center, UNB)
Date: December 1, 1997
Opening Act: Mae Moore
It was almost at the last minute that I decided to attend Jann Arden's concert. I'd heard the
song 'The Sound Of' on the radio a lot and really liked it. So I called up a friend and said
why don't we go to the concert. Smart move...instead of seeing the Bean movie I went to my
first ever concert! We were lucky, tickets weren't sold out, plus we had decent seats, we
were 15 rows back from the stage. We were to be the last date of Jann's tour!!
Mae Moore came on stage, I had heard the songs 'Because Of Love' and 'Bohemia' before, but never
bought her CD (I do own Bohemia now though!). She was fantastic live! I think Mae sang six songs,
including 'Bohemia', but...not 'Because Of Love'. It was so long ago that I don't remember what
other songs she sang...but she was great! It's sad, she's one of the most underrated Canadian
artists.
After a short setup break, Jann's band came onstage and started playing the opening notes to 'Good
Mother'. I couldn't help but notice the person playing the bongos. From where I was sitting, I could
have sworn that it was a guy...a rather cute one at that. It turned out to be Lin Elder, who is also Jann's
former backup vocalist (she persued a solo career...check her out!!). Then Jann Arden made her way to the
front of the stage.
Now, the first time I ever saw Jann live on the TV was at the Junos a few years back. I didn't care much for
the performance then because she made the microphone squeal (ouch on the ears!!). I was hoping that she
wouldn't do the same here, and she didn't let me down. Jann was also hilarious, she told us a few stories,
one about when she went golfing with these radio people to promote one of her albums and had to excuse herself
to fix her bra.
At one point, Lin Elder left the stage. After that song was done, Lin had reappeared on stage and took a seat
on a stool. Jann told her to lay off the liquids. Then she pointed out that she was actually looking Lin in
the eye...normally she had to talk to her neck (Lin is rather tall), and the funny thing was...Jann declared
herself to be 5'9. One fan hollers "liar!". Jann politly tells the fan "f*ck you!". She did another song, then
apologized for what she had said and dedicated the next song to the fan...'Insensitive'.
A couple songs later, we got a treat...Jann let Lin sing two songs of her new album (One Beautiful Wife). The songs
were ''bout Your Beauty' and 'Until I'm Clean'. I was almost in tears after 'Until I'm Clean', it's a beautiful song.
Lin has an amazing voice, I bought her CD right after the concert.
The concert was awesome, I would definetly go back and see Jann live again, I even taped Much Music's Intimate and
Interactive, just to be able to see and hear her live again. In concert she also covered the song 'Tequilla' as well
as a few other older songs. At one point she was on her knees singing like a little kid...she pulled it off really
well. She's funny and she's got a great singing voice, what more could you want out of a performer?
Artist: The Tea Party
Location: Fredericton, NB (UNB Student Union Building)
Date: April 3, 1998
Opening Act: Econoline Crush
This concert I had planned to attend well in advance. We had our tickets, the place was sold out. I was warned to
stay away from the stage due to the mosh pit that would form. We stood pretty far back, I'm not really tall...so it
was really hard to see the stage. Econoline Crush came out on stage and the body surfing began in the mosh pit. I
could see Econoline Crush's lead singer, Trevor Hurst, pretty good from where I was standing. I'm not real familiar
with their music, but they are incredible live! I did hear their song 'All That You Are (X3)' before, and I like the
song. Fortunatly they played it! Trevor seemed to have a lot of energy, one second you would see him at one end of
the stage, then you would see his head peek up at the other side. His orange hair made him quite easy to spot onstage.
Where the SUB is a lot smaller than the Aitken Center, we were actually closer to the stage, so I could see his face
a lot clearer.
Meanwhile, I also kept an eye on the mosh pit. Never being exposed to one before I found it quite fascinating...clothes
flew one way and a body went the other. At one point I saw a pair of legs sticking up in the air long before I saw the
guy's body. It was...interesting...well that's not quite the word for it...strange would fit better I think!
After Econoline Crush, we waited for what seemed like forever for the Tea Party to come out. I was so sore from standing
that I just plopped myself down on the floor...I did get a few odd looks, but it was worth sitting.
They finally got out on stage...and I couldn't see a thing. People had moved in front of us. Then I saw Jeff Martin's head.
Again, I'm not real familiar with the Tea Party's music. I love the song 'Temptation' though, and their newest one 'Release'.
I really enjoyed the concert, and I discovered that 'Release' is kind of an apology to all the women in the world for the
cruel things that guys did to them. The song brings tears to my eyes, it's really powerful, like Jeff's vocals. Then they
sang 'Temptation', I'd been waiting for it all night...and I wasn't disapointed, they were just fantastic. I hear that the
Tea Party are coming back this fall to the Aitken Center, I will most likely be going to that!
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