Anthony Green
with Jacobs Ladder
March 18, 2011
Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Review and Photos by Michelle Carrera
Thunderous cheers rang out from the crowd at Ft. Lauderdale's Culture Room as fans eagerly awaited Circa Survive front man Anthony Green's rare one-stop solo show.
The night kicked off with an impromptu performance by Stephanie, Anthony's sister-in-law. The pretty brunette took the stage with her guitar, eventually performing three acoustic songs.
Jacobs Ladder
The Miami-bred band Jacobs Ladder played next, overtaking the venue with their infectious enthusiasm. Bassist Sammy Gonzalez zealously flailed around as the band played songs that fused various genres including alt-rock, pop-punk and reggae, all melded with catchy chorus lines sung by vocalist Oren Maisner's resonant voice. Drummer Brian Hernandez played with an intrinsic excitement that added to the stage presence Jacobs Ladder has perfected after more than 10 years together.
As the lights dimmed and Green walked on-stage to deafening cheers, the crowd rapidly pushed forward. Adding a familial vibe of the show, Green introduced his family watching from the side of the stage, including his newborn son James. As the chorus of “aww's” echoed from the crowd Green playfully remarked “Get that kid outta here, he's stealing my thunder.”
Anthony Green
Green need not worry, as soon as the opening lyric of “Babygirl” reverberated throughout the sold out crowd, fans began to fervently sing along in flawless unison, leaving his vocals largely inaudible. The momentum carried on as he sang the songs "She Loves Me So," "Stonehearted Man," and "Miracle Sun" from his 2008 solo debut, Avalon. The set was entirely acoustic, but the crowd provided all the strength and energy a backing band could ever hope to create.
Early on in the show, Green admitted no set list had been made in preparation, prompting fans to yell out requests before he teasingly responded, “But I won't play what you want me to play.”
"As soon as the opening lyric of “Babygirl” reverberated throughout the sold out crowd, fans began to fervently sing along in flawless unison, leaving his vocals largely inaudible.”
Stephanie
Green treated fans to a handful of new songs from the forthcoming album Beautiful Things. He drew laughs as he sang a new, untitled song inspired by his son with lyrics about diapers and spiked hair. He crooned “And you grow up to hate me / Don't want my love / Oh I'll never give / I'll love you no matter what.”
His often frantic onstage performance seemed subdued this time around but ultimately manifested itself in the piercing and visceral screams he gutted out for each song. The crowd reciprocated by screaming, clapping and singing along to every song, including a cover of Good Old War's “I'm Not for You.” Other new songs that stood out included a mournful ballad inspired by the film There Will be Blood and the raging “Can't be Satisfied.”
Anthony Green
The definite highlight was the performance of "Devil's Song" that produced dueling fan sing alongs as Green instructed half the crowd to chant “We're all in the same spot” while the opposite side shouted “This feels like a nightmare."
As a preface to the closer “The First Day of Work at the Microscope Store,” Green, appearing baffled by the overwhelming cheers and applause stopped to thank the crowd, saying “I see so much potential in this room. There is absolutely nothing exceptional about me. The only thing you see in me is yourself.”
As he was walked off stage, the crowd immediately roared “One more song! One more song!” a demand Green obliged, as he quickly returned to play “Dear Child (I've Been Trying to Reach You).”
The encore transformed the Culture Room into one collective body, swaying as voices swelled to sing every word and match every high, long note. With his wailing voice and a strum of his guitar, Anthony Green managed to leave the crowd mesmerized with his candid and earnest performance. Memorable is an understatement.
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