Live Review & Photos: 311, Slightly Stoopid, Soja @ PNC Bank Arts Center 8-2-12

The PNC Bank Arts Center is not my favorite place to see a show. I live pretty close to the venue, so that is nice, and the staff there have always been kind and professional, but the sound in there is almost always very bass heavy, and muddled. Listening to a concert there is often frustrating as the vocals get buried behind the bass, and even when talking between songs it is hard to discern exactly what is being said. This was a problem even when the state owned the venue, and it is disappointing that in over the twenty years I have been going there, it is still a major issue.

Putting aside sound problems, the 311, Slightly Stoopid, Soja show, dubbed the 'Unity Tour', showcased three bands that have incredible live energy and know how to put on a show.

Soja opened the show, and is case book example of why I always try to show up early to catch the opener, and you should too. I was not overly familiar with this Virginia based reggae band before, but I loved their music, their stage presence, and their energy. I have already gone to their website to find out more about them.

While Soja set the vibe for a nice evening, Slightly Stoopid somehow managed to raise the energy bar even higher. Most of the crowd filtered in during their set and was dancing and grooving to their infectious reggae/ska/hip-hop/punk rock. I don’t really dance in public, but I’ll admit I was swaying in my seat and having a wonderful time. They played several songs from their new album, “top of the world” (out on 8/14), and by all accounts that album should be epic! A fun cover of the S.O.U.L. classic, “express yourself”, closed out their set.

I am not really a fan of 311, so I do not feel comfortable writing a review of their set. In truth, I left three songs into their set. I will say this, they came out of the gate with a lot of energy, and they looked like they were having a lot of fun up there, which almost 25 years into their career is a great feat (I.e. they did not look tired, or jaded after playing for so many years as some bands do). The nearly sold out crowd at the Arts Center also seemed to be having a blast watching 311, so just because they are not my musical taste does not mean they put on a bad show, quite the contrary from what I saw. Oh, and their light rig was pretty spectacular (which made for some cool pictures below).

- Lazlo

www.311.com

www.slightlystoopid.com

www.sojamusic.com

Photos
(click on photo to see full size)

311

Slightly Stoopid

Soja