Live Review: Zak Smith Band, Sofia Nicole @ Starland Ballroom 11/23/13

Review by: Lazlo

After the last time I tried to go to Starland Ballroom and being stuck in horrendous traffic on Jernee Mill Road because the parking attendants were not moving quickly enough to get cars into the lot, I arrived very early this time.

But not early enough to avoid another parking attendant mishap.

There were six cars in front of me waiting to pay to park. The guy taking the money was nowhere to be found. The car in front of me was turning in blocking traffic from going the opposing way on Jernee Mill Road.

I was so hoping for a better experience than last time, but this was not starting off well.

After a minute or two some of the parking attendants, realizing traffic was being blocked, started directing people where to park their cars. I parked my car, but then had to stand there another minute waiting for the guy who takes the money to return.

Why is there only one person taking money???

This could be a major reason why Jernee Mill Road was so backed up last time. When you are charging cars $7 to park in your lot, the least you could do is man the parking lot with enough people to keep traffic moving.

Thankfully, after that issue, I did not have another issue until I tried to leave…but I’ll get to that later.

Finally making it inside the remodeled Starland Ballroom, I was pleasantly surprised to see that while most of it was similar to before, it was nicer, the sightlines were better, and there were a few more seats to be found (though personally, I’d love a lot more seating). The sound was better too, though not perfect, and was still muddy if you were off to the right or left sides.

Normally I wouldn’t be at a show where the headliner was a tribute band, as that is not my cup of tea, but the opening acts being original acts that I have previously enjoyed made it worthwhile to come out and support them.

Sofia Nicole opened the show, a singer-songwriter who I have seen before and quite enjoyed. Tonight was a little different. I enjoyed the middle part of her set where she played her original songs, as she is a good young singer-songwriter. Seeing as the headliner of this show was a tribute band, I understood why she opened and closed her set with covers, but I was downright stupefied when twice during her set she put down her guitar and sang covers to a backing track, essentially turning part of her set into karaoke night. To me it came off as weird, and marred an otherwise enjoyable set.

Zak Smith Band was the second opener, and put on a set worthy of a headliner!

I have only previously seen Zak Smith perform solo acoustic, which has a completely different sort of feel than when backed by his full band. With the band his singer-songwriter songs became high-energy anthems, with guitar solos, and an energy akin to Neil Young & Crazy Horse meets Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Their 30 minute set went by in a blink of an eye and left me wanting more.

Not interested in sticking around for the tribute band, I called it a night and figured I got my money’s worth.

However, the final insult of the $7 parking was still to come.

Starland Ballroom’s parking lot does not have lined spots, instead the attendants direct you where to park. Presumably they don’t have enough spots, because they parked rows of cars so close together that I had to carefully rock the car back and forth until I could turn enough to get out without hitting one of the cars surrounding me.

If I am paying $7 to park I should get a spot that I can pull out of easily.

Next time I am parking at the VFW Hall across the street. Yeesch!

www.zaksmithband.com

www.sofianicolemusic.com