Ed Kowalczyk
The Triple Door, Seattle, WA
03.27.15
Ed Kowalczyk, former singer of the band Live, made a stop at the Triple Door on Friday night, amid his solo acoustic tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of Live’s smash album, Throwing Copper. Released in 1994, Kowalczyk fondly revisited many Live hits, including “I Alone,” “Lightning Crashes,” and “All Over You.” Separating from Live back in 2009, he has been busy finding his own success as a solo artist, releasing his third album in 2013. The Triple Door was a perfect venue for tonight’s performance, with flickering candles and a relaxed atmosphere – great for an evening of kicking back and reminiscing.
The show began promptly at eight with a video screen montage, showcasing the many news events that occurred in ’94: the devastating LA earthquake, the infamous OJ chase, and of course the death of Kurt Cobain, among others. Kowalczyk, along with supporting guitarist Zak Loy (Alpha Rev, DAMESVIOLET), quietly took their guitars as the screen subsided into a video of burning candles. Without word the show began, inevitably starting with the first track of Throwing Copper. He broke the silence after “Selling the Drama,” finally addressing the crowd: “Well how are you? It’s great to be back in Seattle! We’ve been celebrating the last year and a half. It’s the 20th anniversary of Throwing Copper – I can’t believe it’s been twenty years… We’re gonna play the album one through fourteen right now [cheers from the crowd]. I was hoping you’d say that!”
The evening picked up momentum as the hits continued to roll out. Kowalczyk prefaced “Lightning Crashes,” saying, “This will forever be known as ‘the little song that could.’ I was told by the record company that this song would never be a single – it’s five minutes long and it takes a minute and a half to get to the first chorus.” After strolling through the crowd and perching upon a dividing wall, singing his heart out, he also indulged the audience with a funny anecdote for “Shit Towne,” as the nameless Pennsylvanian mayor apparently had a less-than-enthusiastic reception for the song: “I’m still waiting on some sort of honor or billboard…” Kowalczyk also gave free reign to name “T.B.D.” whatever you find pleasing. Some suggestions this evening included, “‘Tibetan Book of the Dead,’ ‘To Be Determined,’ or whatever else you can think of.” The show concluded with bittersweet feelings and a righteous encore of “Turn My Head” and “Seven.”
Ed Kowalczyk Set List:
The Dam at Otter Creek
Selling the Drama
I Alone
Iris
Lightning Crashes
Top
All Over You
Shit Towne
T.B.D.
Stage
Waitress
Pillar of Davidson
White, Discussion
Horse
Encore:
Lakini’s Juice
All That I Wanted
Turn My Head
Seven
Heaven
Overcome
Review by T. Monte
Photos by Sunny Martini
Ed Kowalczyk
