Sloan

Absolutely fantastic show tonight in Cinci. This was my first Sloan show and I was blown away. Great vocal harmonies, great vibe, very fun band! I would definitely like to catch you guys again. Come back!

This was my first Sloan show although I've been a fan for a few years.
I want to say Thanks for making it to Cincinnati.
The set was great (In The Movies was my favorite tune) and I will see you again.
What a talented group.
best wishes.

my wife and I met up with a friend of ours down at the 20th century just in time to catch the opening band "the kicks". they were just ok. I recognized one of the songs from the radio (cosmonaut cosmonaut, or something like that). all they did was whet my appetite for some sloan rock...and rock they did (after the longest changeover in history, anyway).

despite the sparse crowd (c'mon cincinnati!), all of the guys seemed to be into it and having a great time. this is my first sloan show so I don't have anything to compare it to but I have to say I was impressed!. here's the complete setlist:
ready for you
live on
the rest of my life
the lines you amend
hallow head
nothing lasts forever
all of my life? (that's all I caught of the lyrics)
people of the sky
backstabbin'
coax me
false alarm
I was wrong
I am a girl? (help me out here!)
the good in everyone
in the movies
sensory deprivation (yowza!)
step on it jean (which I kept hearing as "step on the cheese")
the other man
motor city maniacs
---encore---
gimme that
if it feels good do it

I truly have to say that this concert was awesome! The venue was cool, with the marquee out front (ala a vintage movie theater). My wife, Gala, and friend Jeff arrived about 30 mintures prior to the opening act, and headed straight for the tour bus outside :)

It wasn't 3-4 minutes that Jay and Chris came walking across the street (having been exploring the very nice suberb of Cincinnati that this club is located in). Jay snuck right by with the nice"Hi" and went into the bus, but Chris, of course hung out and my wife and I both talked to him on the street for about 15 minutes (evne though the poor guy couldn't finish his sandwich!). We got some nice photos of Chris with my wife under the marquee (which had "Live, Tonight Sloan Action Pact Tour"), and made a special request for "Pen Pals" (which the band played for us instead of "I Am The Cancer" on the set list).

As soon as Chris moved on to talk to the 2-3 other fans outside, Andrew came up, and we got to hang with him for about another 15 minutes. I was very impressed talking to both of the guys. Extremely cordial, you can tell the really do appreciate the fans. Especially the fact that we were fans from Frankfort, Kentucky (a state in which Andrew had said they had never played in before. In fact, Andrew mentioned that the last time they were in Cincinnati was with Firehose at the excellent Bogarts venue).

The Kicks, from Little Rock, Arkansas, came on first as the opener -- late -- around 8:20. They did a nice set, with very, very little crowd involvement. They were a powerful young quartet -- and put on a very energetic show (loud, too!). I did buy their CD, "Hello Hong Kong" from the merchandise stand, which was just released on that day on TVT records.

To be honest, I cannot totaly remember when Sloan hit the stage - approx 9:45. What was cool in this venue as there was no back stage, so they just strolled up through the crowd from the rear.

What a birthday present (my b-day is 5/19)! I was up against the fairly good sized stage, with lots of breathing room (not a very large fan following in Southern Ohio/Northern Kentucky).

The band took the stage and tore into the opener from Action Pact, Chris' "Ready For You". As usual, the guys switched off, with Patrick next, with, I believe, "I was Wrong", then Chris came up with a slightly slower, chugging, "Rest of My Life". Crowd participation and reaction to these "new" songs (at least for the US) was positive, I felt. Put it this way, I wasn't the only one singing every word!

Next came a very special treat from a subdued Jay, "The Lines You Amend". Awesome, and one of the highlights of the show!

Chris took the drums, and Andrew the guitar. I was very, very impressed with Andrew's playing. He was playing some very mean licks throughout his four songs. The first two he played were "Great Wall", and "People of the Sky."

The band worked through some of the newer material (which was great), including, "Live On", "Backstabbin'" (awesome), Jay's, "False Alarm", "Nothing Lasts Forever Anymore", "Hollow Head" (Patrick, you ROCK, as my wife would say), and as a special treat from Jay, the U.S. only bonus track / Canadian 45 vinyl release, "Step On it, Jean"

Mixed in were "Coax Me" early in the show (by at which point, Josh and Jaren from the Kicks were up at the stage). It was funny, as Chris was playing with those guys, especially when he got to the line, "it's not the band I hate, but their fans" as he obviously was directing that humorously towards them.

Also, mixed in were, "The Other Man", "Sensory Depravation" (an extended Jam -- especially for Andrew on a MEAN guitar, and Chris on the drums), "In The Movies" (you go, Andrew!), and the obligatory "Money City Maniacs" (in which Patrick and Chris really camped it up for the camera on the stage projection!)

Well, Chris, you came through, when about halfway through, when the band really started lighting up, played the awesome "Pen Pals" that I requested for my wife when we were talking to him out front earlier -- Thanks Chris! And not to let up, they TORE directly into Patrick's "The Good In Everyone" and the place went UP (ok, well, maybe 100-150 people can't really go UP, but we dang well tried!)

Of note: The concert was being filmed, and Chris and even Patrick were really "hamming" it up for the camera, which was cool to the fans up front. The stage had a little projection out front, and of course, Chris wore that out! Doing some nice rock star poses out front (I have some, hopefully, awesome pix I will post soon!). Eventually, Patrick would come up, too, and they would both do some campy posing! Cool! Couldn't quite get Jay out there, though by no lack of urging by Chris :)

The encores as I remember them were "Gimme That" (which took the place of Underwelmed on the set list) and "If It Feels Good, Do it"

After the show, they guys came down onto the floor (carpeted in this nice place, by the way :) and met with the fans. I had to thank Chris again for the "Pen Pals". Andrew came out into the bar area to smoke and talk to fans, and Jay TRIED to dart past to get to the tour bus, but was stopped by some fans, and was still outside talking to them when we drove away.

I actually got filmed for a planned live DVD (yes fans, rejoice). As I said, the show was filmed, but the camera dude was interviewing people as well. He wanted me (remember the Kentuckian) to close my interview with a, "Sloan rocks Y'all", which I, er, unfortunately obliged....then headed for that merchandise stand!

A+++++ Show guys, GREAT! Hope to see you again soon in this part of the country. We dont' want to have to drive 3-4 hours again (as we had to on the Between the Bridges Tour in Toledo) This was right in our back yard, and my wife and I especially appreciate it! SLOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!

Rob Catron (along with Gala, my wife)
Frankfort, Kentucky
5.18.2004

Sloan rocks my world!! I've loved this band for 10 years. Me and my sister were either side of the stage, dancing away. I think I have a crush on Patrick :)

Last nights show was incredible!!
I've been a Sloan fan for nearly a decade and this
was my first opportunity to catch them live.
The set was outstanding.
The guys were very cordial, talking with everyone and taking the time to sign autographs and hang out. I can't think of nicer group of guys to be trapped under a marqius with!
Thanks again fellas for signing my T-shirt, and Chris, I will treasure your drumstick always!! I slept with it under my pillow last night in hopes of a visit from the Sloan fairy!!!!
Please come back to Cincinnati.
We love you!! xoxo