Review by Micah Gummel
Photos by Micah Gummel
More Smash Mouth Photos HERE
More Sugar Ray Photos HERE
More Gin Blossoms Photos HERE
More Vertical Horizon Photos HERE
More Fastball Photos HERE
What do you do when your band hasn’t been relevant since the Clinton administration? (man was it that long ago? Ugg I’m old!) Well, you start a tour with other bands that are in the same boat as you! In 2012, McGrath partnered with Everclear’s Art Alexakis on the nostalgia-filled Summerland tour. They disagreed over the direction of Summerland this year, so they went their separate ways. Summerland groups heavier bands (Everclear, Live, Filter and Sponge), while McGrath’s Under the Son tour features more feel-good bands (Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, the Gin Blossoms, Vertical Horizon and Fastball)The one rule McGrath had was when selecting bands for the first Under the Sun Tour,they had to have No. 1 songs in the ‘90s.
All five bands on the inaugural tour stuck close to that rule, playing short setlists and getting right to the hits during this August 1st and the number 7 stop at The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom.
Sugar Ray singer and tour founder Mark McGrath – Was the comedic emcee throughout the evening – promised that “We’re gonna kick some ass!” Fastball kicked things off slowly with a 30-minute, seven song set, introducing the new song, “Love Comes in Waves” and closing with its hit “The Way.” Vertical Horizon followed with a 25-minute, five-song show highlighted by “You’re a God” and “I’m Still Here”. The group also got a positive reaction when lead singer Matt Scannell mentioned their New England roots and also that they had t-shirts for sale to help Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit benefitting the armed forces, before closing the set with “Everything You Want.”
Next up was the Gin Blossoms — By blending contemporary power pop with elements of the post-grunge era, Gin Blossoms briefly emerged as torchbearers of the lighter side of alternative rock. frontman Robin took the stage for a 40-minute, 10-song set that included “Follow You Down” and “Found Out About You.” The band members reminisced onstage about past history in New England and were joined by two members of Smash Mouth during “Hey Jealousy.”
Sugar Ray is an American band formed in 1986. The band, starting off more as a funk metal band, first gained fame in 1997 with their release of the song “Fly”. This song’s success, coupled with its pop rock sound that was quite different from the rest of their material at the time, led the band to change to a mainstream, pop music style. Subsequent albums shared this similar style, and the band landed a number of hits with “Every Morning”, “Someday”, and “When It’s Over”.
During its 40-minute, eight song set, Sugar Ray played hits such as “Someday,” “When it’s Over,” “Every Morning” and “Fly,” sprinkling in lesser-known songs like “Under the Sun,” about growing up in Newport, California. The show started to resemble a comedy club, as McGrath took an audience member’s phone and began talking to the man’s girlfriend, but he told everyone he wanted them to have fun even though Michigan is going through tough times. An exctended performance of Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun” certainly helped make that happen.
Headlining the show was contemporary hard rockers Smash Mouth. Smash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994 Smash Mouth closed the night with a nine-song, 40-minute set filled with hits such as “Then the Morning Comes” and “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby.” Drummer Randy Cooke, bassist Paul DeLisle and keyboardist Michael Klooser all took solo spots, while the group’s cover of the Monkee’s “I’m a Believer” took audience members back to the first “Shrek” film.
These guys have not missed a beat over the years; they can still get the place jumping on every song. If you get the chance to catch this show you will not be disappointed. Go have some fun it will be a great night! Check out the show dates HERE
2013 Under The Sun Tour at Hampton Beach – NH
