Review By Grandfunk
Harrisburg, Pa.) When the sound guy dances you know the show is rockin'! It was so great to see Roger cuttin' the rug last night. ABC just might become a second home for the Dankaster crew. Even though it will never have the intimacy of the Blue Star, ABC is definitely a hot spot for the Suns. Plain and simple, Central Pa. supports good music. The 20 or so Suns regulars were out last night along with about 100 or so bar-goers and half of them were abducted by night's end. For those following the drumming situation, Casey played last night. The show started with a strange first set. Not a bad strange, just strange. A Coast jam surprised everyone. In a way I was hoping the good old Coast->Moon combo would materalize, but like an April Fool's joke they went into Steppin' Off A Star. Steppin' was a welcome surprise. A very good song that I don't hear all that often. Get Back, Wicked and Jungle proved to be nice song selection to get the crowd convinced that this was a band worth putting your beer down for. They came King Tut...from where I have no idea. This was a total surprise. Kind of a tongue and cheek song. It made everyone smile...so that was cool. Me & My Uncle segued smoothly into Mt. Marlane. Bruce followed with When Everyone Knows and Hungry Moon sent us to setbreak. On paper I would probably say it was a so-so set. But in person, it hit some nice moments but nothing took me to another level. Now the second set was a different story. Into Tomorrow ranks up there with the best versions I've heard...but it was the Laced In Silver that did it for me. Very long hot jam. At one point Jim said to me, "it really is all about the Suns." I have to agree. No one delivers like they do. Gus treated us to the second Velvet Sea. Nice Phish cover for the band to tackle. Mark can really take the jam and soar with it. Express Yourself is always fun to dance to, but I prefer the NYE version with "Right here in Dankaster.." lyrics. We were treated to more Bruce with a Forbidden Fruit...a song that I don't think I've heard in nearly two months. The crowd really got into St. Stephen and then the hardcores got the Open Road that we've heard so much about. Why in the world was this song in storage for so long? Great set ender with Let It Go and encore of Roadhouse Blues. Hot show...lots of fun...but just a warm up for next Saturday at the Blue Star.