Summerland tour takes audiences back to the tranquil days of the 1990s

HOLMDEL, N.J. — For some, it’s easy to poke fun at the Summerland tour, the first of what promises to be an annual festival showcasing alternative rock bands from the 1990s. But among the 8,000 people who showed up at the PNC Bank Arts Center Saturday, July 21, there wasn’t a naysayer among the bunch. Hands ascended into the air. Hips swayed. A few finger-metal signs pulsated with the music. For an inaugural event, Summerland delivered on its promises of transporting audiences to the not-too-distant past.

Mark McGrath, lead singer of Sugar Ray, and Art Alexakis, lead singer of Everclear, hosted the evening, which began promptly at 7 p.m. and continued non-stop until the 11 p.m. curtain time.

Marcy Playground, the first act, was more subdued compared to the other bands, but provided a great deal of entertainment with its nine-song set. Playing to a crowd that was still walking into the amphitheater, the three-person group headed by lead singer John Wozniak started with an excellent take on “Devil Woman”. Bassist Dylan Keefe fired up those who had made their way in from the parking lots, walking back and forth between the far sides of the stage, showing off his masterful plucking.

Other highlights in MP’s set included “Rock and Roll Heroes,” one of their finest songs, and a humorous rendition of “Special,” where Wozniak acted out the line “I am gorgeous too”. The band, playing in support of its latest album Lunch, Recess and Detention, felt tight and completely at ease as the festival’s opening act. ” The Devil Song” highlighted Wozniak’s unique, crisp voice, while “Saint Joe on the School Bus” found Keefe and Wozniak letting loose and even playing each other’s instruments. Shlomi Lavie kept pace on the drums.

Rounding out the set was “Punk Rock Superstar” and “It’s Saturday,” which was specially requested by McGrath. The final tune was the one the audience had been waiting for (a song that Alexakis said was responsible for many pregnancies): “Sex and Candy,” a perfect song that starts with Wozniak’s tempered vocals and eventually speeds up, only to slow down again. It’s an unusually alluring tune, one that put the icing on the cake for Marcy Playground’s 30-minute playing time.

In between sets at Summerland, crews moved fast to keep the bands moving along. At 7:29 p.m., Marcy Playground bid adieu. By 7:41 p.m., McGrath and Alexakis were back on stage to introduce Lit, the southern California group that had a string of hits in the late 1990s, including “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Zip-Lock” and “Miserable”.

A. Jay Popoff, his brother Jeremy and the rest of the five-piece band stormed onto the PNC Bank Arts Center’s stage with a maddening fury. A. Jay spewed liquid into the air. Jeremy tore into his guitar with ferocity. A bottle of Jägermeister wasn’t too far away. Pedestals positioned around the stage allowed A. Jay to manically jump from one end to the other, always trying to rev up the crowd. His efforts paid off, and the audience responded with requisite fist pumps and head bangs.

Lit displays Summerland’s obvious diversity. Much heavier than the other bands, the group played both hits and songs off its latest release The View from the Bottom. “Miss You Gone,” probably the strongest new tune, went over well with the increasingly larger crowd. A. Jay popped off (pun intended) his vest and sunglasses, showing off his tattooed body and continuing to keep the energy sky high until the band’s seven songs were complete.

“Lipstick and Bruises” saw the group reach back to its earlier catalogue, and Alexakis even joined the fun by offering vocals for “Miserable”. From there, it was onto “Zip Lock” and “Broken,” another fine tune that slowed the pace slightly. The band finished with “My Own Worst Enemy,” resulting in a well-earned singalong from the inebriated and amped-up audience.

Again, 30-minute set, 12-minute interval. The third act was the Gin Blossoms, one of the best-selling groups of the early 1990s. They kicked their time-travelling set off with “Follow You Down,” one of the band’s most recognizable tunes. Lead singer Robin Wilson offered white tambourines to women in the audience, and constantly compelled the crowd to clap along to the alt-rock hits. Peace-sign hellos were liberally thrown out to anyone willing to catch them.

The band’s set included a cover of the Plimsouls’ “A Million Miles Away” and “Til I Hear It From You”. With the audience in the palms of their hands, the Gin Blossoms finished with “Hey Jealousy,” their greatest hit and one that kept Summerland’s energy continuing into the 9 o’clock hour.

Sugar Ray, who took the stage at 9:14 p.m., began with a tribute to 1990s television: the theme song to Saved by the Bell. When this was followed by “Wipeout,” it became clear that McGrath and company would break some rules and simply have a good time. Among all the acts, there was no sense of self-indulgence. Every band played its hits, revved up the audience, offered some gratitude to the paying fans and moved along. There was no time for guitar solos or obscure B-sides. Sugar Ray personified these stipulations.

McGrath, who bounced around stage in a black shirt, white jacket and black bow tie, gave life to “Someday,” “Answer the Phone,” “Every Morning” and “Fly”. He even invited two men on stage for a karaoke competition set to The Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” and The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling”. A strange inclusion, but one that the audience seemed to enjoy.

Everclear, under the command of Alexakis, finished off the evening with a 45-minute set that included “Father of Mine,” “Everything to Everyone,” “A.M. Radio” and “I Will Buy You a New Life”. From the band’s new album came “Be Careful What You Ask For” with Wilson from the Gin Blossoms helping out with vocals. “Wonderful” and “Santa Monica,” featuring members of the other acts coming back on stage, closed out the four-hour festival.

Of all the bands, Everclear has the most (and best) hits, songs that deserve to be remembered some 15 years after their original release. They hold up in the concert format as well, bouncing off the roof of the amphitheater and meeting the dancing bodies in the audience. The lyrics are subversively catchy, even when describing serious subject matter. The images, especially in “Santa Monica,” are perfect complements to the summer season.

Summerland had a few hiccups, but the positives far outweighed the negatives. The selection of bands was inspired, and each act was overly giving to the audience. With ticket prices below $100 for all seats, the tour was also one of the most financially accessible for the thousands who turned up.

Inevitably, comparisons arise. For this reporter, there was no matching the furious energy of Lit’s set. Marcy Playground and Everclear featured the best songs, while Sugar Ray and the Gin Blossoms offered the most audience-friendly performances. With three of the five bands advertising new albums, it appears that the 1990s are alive and well. These bands, especially Lit, are back and sounding better than ever.

McGrath and Alexakis promise a second Summerland tour next year. Here’s hoping that promise is kept.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Upcoming Summerland dates: Bethlehem, Pa. (July 24), Vienna, Va. (July 25), Rochester, N.Y. (July 26), Atlantic City, N.J. (July 27), Boston, Mass. (July 28), Uncasville, Conn. (July 29) and Huntington, N.Y. (July 30).

  Other cities include Detroit, Mich., Rosemont, Ill., Duluth, Minn., Nashville, Tenn., St. Charles, Mo., Wichita, Kan., and Laughlin, Nev.

• Click here for more information.