A little bit of Everclear history for you…
Formed in Portland, Oregon in 1992, the band’s first album release was 1993’s World of Noise. The limited, independently released album didn’t fare particularly well, never landing on any US charts.
It was a very different story for the band’s next release. 1995’s Sparkle and Fade, released on Capital Records, was an unqualified success. It topped out at number twenty five on US charts, and to date has sold almost 1.2 million copies, qualifying for Platinum status by all those “initial” groups that track such things. And even though it’s not the band’s biggest selling album (that honor goes to 1997’s So Much for the Afterglow), its status as the album that effectively launched the band’s more than three decade career certainly justifies a 30th Anniversary Tour.
Two nights ago, band founder Art Alexakis (lead vocals and guitar) brought the Sparkle and Fade 30th Anniversary Tour to Englewood’s historic Gothic Theatre, where he and longtime bandmates Davey French (guitar), Freddy Herrera (bass), and Brian Nolan (drums) treated the packed house to a 19-song, hour and twenty-five minute set that included Sparkle and Fade in its entirety, plus an additional five choice Everclear classics.
Album tribute/anniversary tours don’t seem to follow a defined pattern or plan. Sometimes the album is played in its entirety, front to back, without interruption. Sometimes the album is played in its entirety, but out of order. Sometimes only a handful of selected songs are played, mixed in with the rest of the set.
In this case, Everclear played the album in its entirety, almost in order, broken into bit-sized chunks separated by songs mostly from So Much for the Afterglow. They opened the set with the first three songs from Sparkle and Fade – “Electra Made Me Blind,” “Heroin Girl,” and “You Make Me Feel Like a Whore,” followed by “Father of Mine,” from So Much for the Afterglow.
That pattern – three or four songs from Sparkle and Fade followed by a song from a different album – continued through the set. The only break in the original Sparkle and Fade order was the movement of the fourth song from that album, “Santa Monica,” to the closing number of the three-song encore. That’s an obvious and logical move, given that song’s standing as the most identifiable track in the band’s catalog.
The performance was classic Everclear. This is the third time I’ve covered the band, and every time I come away thinking, “this is what live music is supposed to be like.”
The band, as always, was perfectly on target, both their playing and performances. This particular group has been together for seven years (Nolan is the relative newcomer, having joined the band in 2018), so they know each other well. There’s much to be said for that continuity, and for the fact that each member of the band knows exactly how to play off each other. There’s a lot of interplay between them… Alexakis and Herrera, Alexakis and French, Herrera and French swapping sides of the stage, and all three in various classic rock star poses that audiences just eat up.
On lead guitar, French rides the line between flashy and reserved. He doesn’t address the crowd directly, but he’s wildly animated in both his playing and singing. Nolan works beautifully with Herrera as half of the rhythm section. The tempo of Everclear songs range from relaxed to frantic, and Nolan manages it all seemingly seamlessly. Herrera plays three distinct roles. As the other half of the band’s rhythm section (with Nolan), he does an outstanding job holding everything together. He’s far more animated than the average bass player – dancing, swinging his bass around and over his head, and stepping forward numerous times throughout the night to jam alongside Alexakis and French. He’s also something of a “co-host” to Alexakis, addressing the audience directly almost as much as Alexakis does.
And then there’s Alexakis, who is, simply put, a marvel. Behind the scenes, he’s the band’s lead songwriter. Why do I mention that in a review of a live performance? Because the songs the band plays, a large number of which are inspired by events in Alexakis’ life, are powerful and meaningful. When he performs these songs on stage, his performances are powerful and meaningful. His distinctive voice, which is the unquestioned signature of the band, is always in exceptional form. His command of the stage, and everything and everyone on it, is demonstrable. His interactions with the crowd, which range from comical to earnest, bring the audience in as part of the event. I have a tremendous amount of respect for this man, not only as a musician and performer, but as a human being. (For more on Alexakis, I encourage you to check out the interview I did with him in September of 2023.)
Together, the band put on an exceptional show that left the crowd delighted, exhausted, and wanting for more. (When the band semi-left the stage at the end of the regular set, the crowd started chanting “ten more songs.”) This show was full tilt, pedal to the metal, balls to the wall from start to finish. The slowdowns in the set were relative and limited. Sure, songs like “Wonderful” and “I Will Buy You a New Life” are arguably more power pop than straight up rock, but let’s be sure to put the emphasis on “power,” especially when they are performed live.
The sold out crowd at the Gothic was rowdy and animated, sending as much energy to the band as the band was sending to it. Unfortunately, there were two incidents during the band’s set that were… we’ll let’s just say that for those of us not involved, they were embarrassing. I won’t go into detail… no point in giving more air time to the individuals involved. Both incidents forced the band to interrupt the show – the second time in the middle of the song “Strawberry.” I’m including this in my review only because (a) it did happen, and it impacted the show, and (b) as my own public service announcement imploring everyone attending live events to be better than that.
Back to that “sold out” thing… At one point during the evening, while Alexakis was expressing his appreciation for the support the band always gets when they come to Denver, he noted that the last four Everclear shows in Denver have sold out. Given that the band hasn’t released a new studio album in more than a decade, the fact that they continue to sell out shows, not just in Denver, but across the globe, is a testament to the staying power of really, really good songs/music. Sparkle and Fade is a terrific album that includes songs that resonate across generations. It makes all the sense in the world that the band should be touring in honor of that album, and that people will sell out shows to hear those songs performed live.
And you know what else makes all the sense in the world? The band’s biggest selling album, the exceptional So Much for the Afterglow, will turn 30 in 2027. Another 30th Anniversary Tour in the offing? Let me know when tickets go on sale.
A big shoutout and major kudos to the band for the love and appreciation they show to their fanbase by hosting VIP Meet and Greet sessions before their shows. I had the distinct pleasure of attending this session, and I will tell you that Everclear does it right. The entire band shows up, not just a member or two. Every member of the band is accessible and approachable. They answer questions, take the time to chat with every fan in attendance, shake hands, sign autographs, pose for pictures, perform a short acoustic set, and just generally connect with their fans on a very personal level. A sincere thanks to Art, Freddy, Davey, and Brian for taking the time to do this. It means a LOT to the people who come out for it.
Story and photos by Rick Witt www.rickwittphotography.com
