930 Club - Washington D.C. - 6/26/99

Fighting Gravity is a ska type band, with a little harder edge than most. They were recording a live album that night, so I think that gave them a little more energy than most nights, but regardless, they rocked the house. A crowd of a few hundred stood and cheered the entire show. The lead singer had a great voice and was able to get the crowd into it early and keep them rocking the entire hour and a half set. The only thing I knew about this band before I saw them play was that my friend Thorick loves them. And I mean loves them. He's been hounding me for years to go see them live. I blew one chance in Philly a couple years ago, but I managed to make it down for this one, and I was glad I did.

The headlining band of the evening was Vertical Horizon. Yet another band Thorick loves. And I mean loves. When he heard these two bands were on a bill together he almost passed out. I had heard one of their songs, the one currently in rotation on alternative radio stations called "We Are". I liked the song but I still wasn't sure I'd like the band. But like Fighting Gravity, these guys rocked. They are more of your regular alternative type bands out today, but all of them are incredible musicians. The crowd absolutely loved them, and most of them knew all the words to all the songs and sung along the entire time. These guys have a very radio friendly sound about them, and if "We Are" breaks through, they should have a long and prosperous road ahead of them.

So basically, if you every get a chance to see either of these bands play, I suggest you go out and see them. They both put on one heck of a show...