WOLFMOTHER – LIVE AT THE PARADISE ROCK CLUB – BOSTON
Lycaena they’ve been a band I’ve liked since their debut album WolfmotheIt came to the US in 2006. I would tell my friends that this is going to be the next big band, don’t listen to them. While they may not have lived up to my initial expectations so far, I was looking forward to seeing them live. A large number of people agreed with my love for the band as Paradise Rock Club was sold out for this show over Thanksgiving weekend.
A show in Boston usually includes my son Jagger, who lives there and this was no exception. At previous Paradise shows we usually find our way to the side of the mixing board and hang out there. Tonight as we went through the floor, finding the mixing board was missing. After further revision it had been moved to the balcony, opening up more space on the main floor.
We took a walk upstairs thinking there was still room next to it. When we got to the balcony we found the box seats were taking up our usual space so we headed back to the main floor and were about 10 feet back on the left side of the stage. This turned out to be an optimal move on our part as LycaenaGuitarist and singer Andrew Stockdale spent 98 percent of the show camped out in front of us.
Leading off the night with “Dimension” and “New Moon Rising,” Stockdale then said “Cheers” to the crowd. One of the huge hits from the first album “Woman” was next. After “White Unicorn”, Stockdale introduced the band, Nate Wagner (Drums) and Nick Vogepohl (Bass). He also thanked opening act Fever Dog and then let the crowd know it was time to go crazy.
“RockOut” played and Stockdale said what an honor he was to play in this venue. The guitar technician then gave him a white Gretsch guitar with gold trim. He joked that it was time to bring out the fancy guitar for the sold out show as “Apple Tree” was next. Returning to his Gibson, “Pyramid” and “Midnight Train” followed, which later included a duck ride. Before “Colossal,” Stockdale told a woman in the balcony that he was a little worried about going onstage ala Pearl Jam in 1991.
Dokman played a great bass intro to “California Queen”. The stage lights all went green for “Vagabond” which Stockdale said was their tribute to Guinness. A new song, ‘Stay a Little Longer’ was followed by ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Survivor’ and ‘Paranoid’, a cover of Black Sabbath. ‘Gypsy Caravan’ and then ‘Feeling Love’ had Stockdale checking to make sure everyone was having fun, then telling a story about the first time he heard ‘Woman’ on the radio. He was listening to a radio that was a gift from Viagra and laughed about how he had to pick it up when it came on.
“Victorious” saw Stockdale lying on his back for the final guitar solo. Finishing the main set was another big hit from the debut album ‘Joker And The Thief’. The encore was Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll,” which might be the song I’ve heard most other bands play live in concert. Lycaena gave a great performance, Stockdale’s voice strong all night. Coming out of the show I still think they should be a bigger band than they are. An excellent performance both vocally and musically that makes me want to see them again.
Fever Dog, from California opened the night with a fun 45 minute set that even squeezed in a drum and guitar solo. The group came out in matching white overalls and Danny Graham (Guitar) and Joshua Adams (Drums) alternated on vocals. Quanah Lienau (guitar) and Jaxon Fischer (bass) complete the lineup.
