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Soul Asylum
| December 4th, 2009 @ First Avenue |
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by Courtney Campbell
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It is said that you can never go back but that is exactly what I did ~ well back to Minneapolis, back to see Soul Asylum at First Avenue.
For whatever reasons, it had been quite awhile since I had seen Soul Asylum, a couple of years to be exact but as soon as those first notes were played, those years were stripped away and all that existed was me and a band that I absolutely love.
Here was a crowd that didn't care whether that hit song was played or not. This was home for Soul Asylum. Here was where they could be whatever they wanted to be and play whatever they wanted to play. I'm sure everyone in attendance had their own favorites that they would have loved to have heard but nobody went home disappointed.
The set was filled with songs that spanned their career as a band and of course included a couple of covers - which we all know this band is known for doing. This night we heard Wyclef Jean's "Gone 'Til November" and The Who's "My Generation" which incidentally featured bassist Tommy Stinson on lead vocals. Also tossed into the set was "Silly Love Songs" at the end of "Misery" (knowing that garnered me an increase in my "coolness factor" I was told by a fellow photog).
There was a dedication to Bob Stinson just before "Easy Street" and of course "Without a Trace" went out to Karl Mueller as we all raised our glasses/bottles in the air. At one point front man Dave Pirner had us vote on whether or not we wanted to hear the next song. Judging by the black acoustic guitar strapped on him, I voted "NO" but the majority did vote "YES" and we got "Runaway Train". I don't dislike the song, I actually do love it but I don't listen to it any longer. There's a certain point in the song that just hits me and I miss Karl.
Missing from the night were songs from "Candy from a Stranger". Granted this album wasn't received as well as some of the others, but there still are some very good songs on there. Oh and I don't think any of us that have seen the band perform the title track (which isn't on the album) live will ever forget Dave's dancing! Dave did hint about the new material that they are working on but unfortunately the band decided not to play anything new for us this night.
Here is a band that could have just called it quits but instead they have persevered and are having the times of their lives performing. They genuinely look like they are having fun on stage. The interaction between the members just intensifies the love I have for this band. I look forward to the future and what it brings for Soul Asylum.
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