As sad as it is that CBGB’s is closing its doors at the end of the month, there couldn’t have been a better way to say goodbye to the Home of the Underground than with my personal favorite, Pete Yorn. With his new release Nightcrawler just out, Yorn delivered riveting new songs along with a repertoire of amazing tunes from CDs past.
It was a totally interactive experience – like a wave pool with the ebb and flow of bodies swaying. Pete would send out the first surge of lyrics and the crowd would sing back with hands held high — reaching for the graffiti-plastered pipes that have witnessed punk, grunge and rock 'n’ roll over the past three decades.
Yorn paid homage to his first album, musicforthemorningafter, opening with “Closet” and segueing into “Life On a Chain,” revving the crowd into one single live wire. These were not fly-by-night fans – they, like me have probably followed him for years. Staples such as “Burrito” (from Day I Forgot) and “Murray” (morning album) made us true-blues feel right at home.
Nightcrawler not only crept in but beat down the door with “For Us” – if there were any skeptics in the crowd, this tune may have shifted some loyalties – intense chord shifts and plucking guitars were further complimented by the kinetic harmonizing between Pete and keyboard/guitarist Joe Kennedy. “Alive” aptly landed its name - another beautifully synchronized, string-driven tune with the backbeat hammering the lyrics home, thanks to drummer Malcolm Cross.
The Night only got better with “Undercover,” “Same Thing” and “How Do You Go On’’ — endearingly dedicated to his 96-year old grandfather. Speaking of endearing, Pete’s description of CBGB’s: “This place is a shithole. I like it!” He must have really liked it when he invited CJ Ramone up on stage during the encore to play bass for the Ramone’s cover, “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”. The crowd went wild – after all, this is the birthplace of The Ramones. The very same venue I stood in twenty some odd years ago to watch cover bands I only wished were The Ramones.
Article comments
1 - Laura
Another excellent commentary, not only on Yorn but CBGB's. You can feel how much you enjoyed this concert!
2 - Connie Phillips
This article has been placed at the Advance.net websites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
3 - rick
makes me want to explore more pete yorn
4 - joanne
You should definitely explore more...as great as Nightcrawler is, his first two of the trilogy(musicforthemorningafter & Day I Forgot) are equally amazing. Check him out.
5 - Scott
definitely at least check out musicforthemorningafter. It's something of a minor masterpiece, I'd say.
6 - joanne
Yes, it is. That is my ultimate favorite. Although Nightcrawler is catching up to it each time I hear it...some really brave departures on it and yet familiar tie-ins, as well.