Friday night was the last in the Stir Cove Concert Series, and despite the chilly air, the stage was hot with talent. This night gave us Carolina Liar, One Republic, and Rob Thomas. Yes, THAT Rob Thomas.
Carolina Liar opened the night right at 6:30 and despite the fact that they’ve only been around a couple of years, they were strong and very appealing. Hard to believe a band with such a solid American rock and roll sound is made up mostly of Swedes! But they were enjoyable and the sold-out crowd was pleased. I can’t tell you the name of any of their songs, but I think I’ll be looking around for more from this group.
After a very brief changeover (and I don’t know if that was because the roadies were just that good, or if it was just so darn cold), One Republic took the stage and the crowd swelled even more. This band, too, is fairly young in the music world, but they are heavy favorites of the Internet music crowd. Their hit song “Apologize” was the biggest radio airplay hit in the history of Top 40 radio in North America, racking up 10,331 spins in one week…you see, I’ve done my research! Their sound will remind you a little of Five for Fighting, and I believe they have some true staying power.
And then… the real ‘coup’ Mr. Rob Thomas. I used to think he was the ‘man in the band’ but I was never so pleased to be wrong. This man is notably talented. His voice is strong and alluring….somewhat mesmerizing. His lyrics are meaningful and he sings with heart. The acoustics at Stir on Friday night were the best of the year. Thomas’ voice came through clear and every word could be understood and enjoyed. He is quite the versatile musician, playing the guitar and piano both with ease.
It’s hard to hear resounding applause when everyone is in gloves….but I believe it was resounding. Again, lots of sing-a-long from the youthful crowd, but I’ve come to realize what an honor it is to the performer, that people actually know and can sing the words to your tunes. Mr. Thomas promised a two hour extravaganza and that’s what he gave the audience. By the time he departed, toes and nose were red, you could see your breath and your fingers were starting to get numb. But it was so worth it.
I have to say that this year’s lineup at Stir was one of the most memorable I’ve ever taken part in. The talent was across the board and offered something for everyone. Security guards, the staff, the ticket takers, the bartenders… all were professional and pleasant. They have this series down to a science. They have roped off areas that allow easy passage to/from the bars and restrooms (okay….outhouses….but REALLY nice ones!), they have kept the bars open until 11:00 p.m. to ease some of the crowd departure issues, and they have roving beer vendors for the lazy ones in the back rows! It’s no wonder Pollstar has listed Stir Cove as one of the top 100 amphitheaters in the WORLD. They are doing everything right. I really hate for the series to end, but I don’t wanna sit in the snow next week either! I can’t wait to see what is in store for next year. I don’t know how they are going to top this one! Again, kudos to everyone involved in making this such an outstanding place to be entertained.
