Lifehouse “Who We Are” Tour 10.22.2007

By D. Marcher, FromTheCrowd.com Contributor

As many of you did not know, judging by the size of the crowd, Lifehouse performed at the Marquee Theater on October 22^nd.  Even though the Marquee was only filled to about half capacity, Lifehouse performed as though they were entertaining an arena full of their biggest fans.  Unfortunately the same can not be said for their opening acts, luckily, the fans realized that there was light, in this case Lifehouse, at the end of the tunnel.

HoneyHoney, kicked the show off with their unique folk take on rock, perhaps their sound is best describe by their MySpace, calling it backyard rhythm.  The duo, comprised of Suzanne Santo, the singer and violinist and Ben Jaffe, rhythm guitar and bass drum, charmed the small audience.  Santo, while small in stature wowed the audience with her strong vocals.  She looked sweet and innocent; however, this was all dispelled when she began singing a playful song dedicated to all of the couples in attendance.  While their music was heavily based upon prose, it was lighthearted and fun, something that is often not found in the music of today.  As the crowd slowly trickled in, everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the performance, which was actually their last with the Lifehouse tour

Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the next band, Midway State a quartet from Toronto, that just joined the tour the day before.  With that said, perhaps it is this lack of experience on the stage, which made this performance so disappointing.  Midway State provided easy pop rock melodies that seemed to fall upon deaf ears, as they were unable to capture that audience with their performance.  The crowd, which was now about quarter capacity, freely walked around in and out of the theater, with little interest in the performance.

For the fans that had come for Lifehouse, this was just not their type of music and I would say a poor selection for the tour to compliment Lifehouse.  Perhaps it was best said by Amber, 18 from Phoenix, “I didn’t leave because I wanted to save my spot (in the crowd) for Lifehouse, otherwise I would have.”  Amber, was not alone in her sentiment, Mike, 30 of Goodyear, said “I would have come later, had I known.”    Midway States’ lead singer was full of dramatic movements and obvious angst, but it seemed self absorbed.  To be honest, I would have been just as happy to have listened to elevator music, while waiting for Lifehouse, and those in the audience that were listening to their mp3 players, must have felt the same way.

Finally, Lifehouse, the trio comprised of Jason Wade, Rick Woolstenhulme, Bryce Soderberg, came on stage to the delight of all of those in attendance.  Jason Wade erupted into “Make Me Over”, followed by “Spin” and the crowd couldn’t have been happier.  The audience ate up the high energy level that Lifehouse emitted.  You could instantly tell that this crowd was in for a great evening of music.  Not letting the size of the crowd place a damper on the evening, couples danced together freely, almost as if this is the way the audience should have been.  The boys of Lifehouse made full use of the large stage, Bryce, the bassist, even leaped onto the speakers to the surprise of the crowd.  There were plenty of other surprises too, such as Bryce taking on lead vocals for a cover of  Badfingers’, “No Matter What”.  Jason Wade’s vocals were as impeccable as ever as he commanded the stage, leading the crowd through seven songs from “Who We Are”, the latest Lifehouse release.  Jason and company, of course, also played fan favorites such as their mega hit, “Hanging by a Moment” and even dedicated “You and Me” to all of the fans in attendance.  Overall, Lifehouse managed to salvage a somewhat disappointing night of music, into one of my favorite concerts this year.

Lifehouse Concert Review 10.22.2007

By K. Mac, FromTheCrowd.com Contributor

Performing at Tempe’s Marquee Theatre Monday night was Lifehouse, the band that entered the mainstream with their breakout single “Hanging by a Moment.” Surprisingly, the venue was not filled to capacity, but that did not stop Lifehouse from putting on an amazing show. If anything the lower number of attendees added to the intimate atmosphere of the show.

Lead vocalist, Jason Wade led the set perfectly, bringing the crowd with him on a journey through a variety of songs, emotions and tempos. His passion for the material was tangible, even from the back of the venue it was possible to feel the emotions in each song. Adding to the atmosphere were the lighting effects of the show. There was one moment that is still crystal clear in my mind, and that was when the instruments died out, he was backlit by soft blue light and his crystal clear voice sang the chorus of “Spin.”

As well as playing their own material, Lifehouse covered Badfinger’s “No Matter What,” which had the crowd singing along enthusiastically.  Jason interacted throughout the evening with the audience, including an anecdote about the drummer, Rick Woolstenhulme, growing up in Gilbert.  Jason and explained that Rick had worked at a popular pizza joint, and the crowd erupted in applause and cheers.  These interactions only enhanced the connection between the band and crowd.  Rick also made his hometown proud with an impressive drum solos during “Broken” and the encore.

Lifehouse’s performance was in no way lacking, even if concert attendance may have been.  The experience was incredible, and it felt as if it were attending a private concert. The members of Lifehouse engaged the crowd, and let everyone present feel the emotion that went into creating their music and lyrics. If you get the chance to see them in concert, take it. You will not be disappointed.

Set List:

• “Make Me Over”
• “Spin”
• “Am I Ever”
• “Interlude-Quasi”
• “Simon”
• “Hanging by a Moment”
• “Somebody Else”
• “Mesmerized”
• “No Matter What” – Badfinger Cover
• “The Joke”
• “Better Luck”
• “Whatever it Takes”
• “You and Me”
• “First Time”   

  Encore:

• “Disarray”
• “Broken”