The Setting

This show was originally scheduled to be held at the Riviera Theatre, but due to low number of ticket sales, it was moved to the Park West in Lincoln Park. The show was booked three of four weeks before the performance, so it didn't really have enough time for promotions on radio, magazines, etc. Overall, this was definitely the strangest Jars of Clay shows I've ever been to (this was my fifth show). If any of you are familiar with the Park West, it used to be a strip club back in the day. The stage was small and right in front of it was a dance floor. Around the dance floor was the seating area, but it wasn't like your normal seating area. It was more of a lounge setting with tables and booth. A waiting staff would come over and take drink orders during the show (don't worry, I'm over 21!). I felt like Jars of Clay was our dinner entertainment! There were, maybe, 500 people there….most being an older crowd (college kids to people in their 30s). Definitely a more intimate setting…..which I cherished, because the other shows I've attended had crowds of thousands.

The Show

The Jars set opened with each member walking out on stage individually. First Matt, then Steve, then Charlie, then Dan. Matt and Steve started to jam on their electric guitars. Having no idea what it was, Dan started to sing the first verse to Liquid. Now, I'm thinking, this is probably the third or fourth version of Liquid I've heard! Like they said in the pay-per-view, I guess when perform a song thousands of times, you get to rewrite it. This version was really good, but for me personally, nothing beats the version on the self-titled record. This one had a more classic rock feel to it, and the crowd loved it. The set list was very similar to the pay-per-view and the spring tour. Other pieces included were (in no particular order) Like A Child, Disappear, Flood, Love Song For A Savior, Unforgetful You, Collide, Something Beautiful, Fly, I Need You, The Eleventh Hour, I'm Alright, Revolution, and the encore was World's Apart.

The Curveballs

I think every Jars of Clay show I've attended has at least a couple "curveballs"….meaning things I don't expect. That's what makes them such a great touring band….they'll do something that'll just make you say, "Whoa, cool! I didn't see THAT coming!". One of these curveballs was when they performed The Eleventh Hour. It was an acoustic arrangement with some audience participation at the end. Charlie played the accordian instead of the keyboard, and I don't think there Aaron Sands on the bass was on. I'd really like for that to be a track on the acoustic record next year. Then, after Something Beautiful, Dan started talking about the next song and how it's taken on a certain meaning to the band. And you know after Something Beautiful, the crowd was quiet. Dan was in his serious mode. So he continues to talk about the song as the band plays in the background. It's sounds like a new song. The entire crowd is focused and moved…..until he gets to the chorus of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. That's right folks, Jars played a slow acoustic version of the classic Cyndi Lauper song! I just about died of laughter right there. If you need a reason to see this show, it's to see that performance. It was pure Jars of Clay humor at their best.

The Meet & Greet

After the show, my friend and I attended the meet & greet. This was my second one. I originally had a whole list of questions to ask, but I felt if I asked all of them, I'd keep the rest of the people waiting. But I did spend some time with Dan and told him about how nice it was for him to stop by the messageboards. I also asked him and Steve what the Chinese writing tattoos on their arm stood for. The one on Dan's arm stands for salt and light and the one on Steve's arm stands for "shalom", meaning peace. I did notice Charlie sporting a nosering!

So that's about it! Now I'm looking forward to seeing them again in Merriville in two days!

Geeves