Every summer has its big tours that look back. Mostly, bands like Journey, or The Cars with different line-ups reflecting how much each member of the band hates one another tour in package deals that are perfect for summer nights and state fairs. Interestingly enough, the 80’s tours of years past seems to be moving out and 90’s package deals are breaking through. This year, 90’s stalwarts The Barenaked Ladies are touring with Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Cracker.
Another tour to built from the dollar bin, Summerland co-headlined and co-hosted by Everclear and Sugar Ray just barreled through Wolf Trap Wednesday night bringing good times and nostalgia in a show that was never flashy but always entertaining. Featuring hits sets from Marcy Playground, Lit and Gin Blossoms, the tour is a fast paced look at modern rock radio circa 1999. Though a Lit and Everclear both released new records this year, little notice was given to new material, as people flushed sold-out Wolf Trap to hear the songs that made them believe in these bands at some point in their life.
Starting off, Marcy Playground played a six-song set crossing through all of their albums. When their time came to a close they got to the first of many sing-alongs in the night, “Sex and Candy” ordering the seated section of Wolf Trap to stand up and “get some exercise” before Lit. True to Mark McGrath’s words, none of the set switch-over’s took longer than 10 minutes thanks to the largest roadie crew I’ve ever seen. Marcy Playground’s gear was gone so fast you’d hardly know they still existed
Though Lit came off looking frozen in time like Guitar Hero avatars, their sheer showmanship shined through. Lit played not one, but two new tracks from their just released The View from the Bottom, the Ting Ting’s inspired “Miss You Gone” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” rip “The Broken.” Everclear’s came out to help Lit through “Miserable,” and A. Jay Popoff was in rock frontman mode jumping around the stage on various platforms proving that after all these years he still has it. Of course true to the tour’s nature, the band ended with their biggest hit “My Own Worst Enemy” which prompted Popoff to run into the crowd to sing the song with him.
The Gin Blossoms have aged pretty well, and as correctly McGrath sated “they have so many hits they forgot how many they had.” Perfecting the balance between Lit’s loud rock and showiness and Marcy Playground’s three dudes standing around, Gin Blossoms were all smiles while working their way through instantly recognizable singles. Singer Robin Wilson looks a lot different then he did in the 90’s but his voice stayed intact like a mosquito frozen in amber. Wilson led the crowd to clap along with every hit- and I mean every hit, “Follow You Down,” “Found Out About You,” “Alison Road,” “Till I Hear it From You” and of course “Hey Jealousy.”
Sugar Ray were the evening’s pranksters. McGrath still has his charms, women were swooning at his feet. Taking the stage to the Saved By The Bell theme, the band was in full on 90’s mode. They played their hits, “Someday,” “Answer The Phone” and the No. 1 single (from 1999), “When It’s Over,” but they also had a little bit of weirdness. I’m not going to get into their poorly serviced Ramones cover, but their very weird jarring “Sugar Ray Freestyle Karaoke” interlude.
The band brought up two audience members, a young guy and an older man, and had them sing along to “Fight for Your Right (To Party)” by the Beastie Boys and “I Got A Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas. The Crowd cheered for their favorite, the older man won, and the participants each got t-shirts. McGrath joked they were Dishwalla and Third Eye BlindT-Shirts “two bands that will be on the bill next year.” Both of those bands seem perfect for a tour like this, especially if you add Smash Mouth and Eve 6, it is sure to sell out Wolf Trap again.
Everclear ended the night, and while the other bands still sound like they did years ago, Everclear might be the most transformed. Art Alexakis is the only original member, and not only did the two other members leave, Alexakis replaced them with four new members. Alexakis did his best to recreate the old classics, though his singing voice leaves much desired, as he can barely hit the kinds of notes he did 10 years ago.
Sure they played the hits, but they also went back to their breakthrough album Sparkle and Fade and played “Heroin Girl” and “Summerland”. After stopping a Led Zeppelin cover due to time, probably a good choice considering they would’ve destroyed it, Everclear played “Santa Monica” with the help of Marcy Playground, The Gin Blossoms, Lit and the crowd.
What could’ve been a disaster waiting to happen ended up being an enjoyable trip back in time. While many have forgotten about these bands, once you hear them play all their hits back to back you’ll remember the good or bad times you’ve had listening to the radio or watching MTV back in the late 90’s. Personally I cannot wait for the tour to come back next year.
