Filter - October 17th, 2011 - The Fillmore

A packed house at the Fillmore in Silver Spring for Bush/Chevelle/Filter on the 17th of October. Three bands that have each had large fanbases on their own and combining them here on this tour lent credence for a night of pure rock and roll.

Starting off the night was Filter lead by Richard Patrick. Having seen this band over the years, through many lineup changes, one never knows what will happen during a set of theirs. They kicked off with "Welcome to the Fold", such an appropriate song to begin the night. Right away the bar was raised as Patrick ventured off the stage onto equipment cases in the barricade area, onto the actual barricade and then into the Bush VIP area on the floor in front of the stage as that area was vacant at the time. It was great to see him this animated and engaging and reminded me of the Filter of old. There had been many times over the years that after seeing them I felt that they were just a shell of what they used to be. Fault could be given to many reason but here is a band that has weathered through their own storms and is fighting to stay on top like everyone else. Lineup changes have played a part in all of this and this lineup now plays together as a band. Strange thing to say but a few years ago I thought of it as Richard Patrick and Filter not as the band Filter; there was something missing. Glad they rediscovered whatever it was.

Interspersed through the set were newer songs such as "Drug Boy" as well as a cover of ZZ Top's "Give Me All Your Lovin;". Personally I would have loved to have heard another original song as I know their music but as the opener,throwing in a well known cover worked well.Of course the set ended with "Hey Man Nice Shot" during which Patrick crowd surfed. (A side note about this song, earlier in the day during Roach's show on DC101 he listed out the top bass line songs as voted by listeners and "Hey Man Nice Shot" was number 1.)