Concert Review: Strata and Finger Eleven give the performance of a lifetime
By The Anarchist and Valovanity
All photos by Mike Schmitt
Sometimes in the midst of a terrible situation magic can happen. Chevelle was scheduled to headline the House Of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC on May 31 along with Finger Eleven and Strata. However, Chevelle vocalist Pete Loeffler was suffering from a sinus infection and after a bad reaction to the medication he was given at the hospital he became ill. Though every effort was made to make the show happen, Pete could barely stand, let alone perform. I was finishing up my interview with with Eric Victorino and Hrag Chanchanian, which will be up in July when their guitarist Ryan Hernandez broke the bad news. The show was cancelled. It took all of a second for Eric to to suggest that the band perform a free acoustic concert to help make up for the fact that the show could not go on as planned. Ryan grabbed his acoustic guitar, they enlisted Finger Eleven to join in and I was sent to the front of the building to gather up fans for an impromptu jam. The crowd, who had been so disappointed just minutes before was thrilled to get the chance to be a part of a special event. This was more than a concert, it was a communal experience. The bands just sat down in the outside bar area with no mics, lights or PA. Several people compared it to a campfire sing-along. The musicians talked with the crowds between songs and hung out for a long time signing autographs and doing everything they could to give the fans a great night in spite of the bad siitation. In fact, though we all feel for Pete and wished Chevelle could have performed, we knew that we were watching something special. I wanted to let a fan who was in attendance tell you about the show and fortunately, Valovanity, who is a regular site visitor and posts on our Forum as sospokevalo was right there in the front row, and shares her experience below...
On the deck, there were probably 100 or so people sitting around out there. It was so intimate and raw. One acoustic guitar; one voice. And everything else was perfect as well. A light breeze; the sun had already set. It couldn't have been more flawless. My whole crew sat up under a tree on the patio at first as people started to pile in chairs around the steps/stage. Eric and Ryan sat down right in front of where the guys from Finger Eleven were getting ready to play. Eric had his little mug of coffee and that just tripped me out. I don't know. I was just in some kind of weird awe. He looks over at us and motions us to come sit by him. So, the crew piles on the floor beside Eric and Ryan and people soon follow behind us.
Finger Eleven opened up with "I'll Keep Your Memory Vague," and I had recently fell in love with that song so I was really happy that they opened with that one. It was beautiful with that raw acoustic atmosphere. I was fighting tears already. It was funny seeing them mess up and laugh it off like that…they are human. They played a couple more songs, including "One Thing," and I enjoyed singing along to that one as well.
Strata (Ryan and Eric) set up next on the stairs. Eric asked everyone to come up closer because Eric has a much quieter and almost fragile voice. They indeed opened up with "Coma Therapy," which Carolyn predicted they would. My God. It was gorgeous. It felt like it was just Eric, Daryll, and myself singing it, harmonies and all. I was lost in it all, really. They also played "Hot/Cold (Darling Don't)", "Never There", "Sleep", "The New National Anthem" "Love is Life". They hadn't ever played "Love Is Life" live, on acoustic, or together ever before. From what Eric later tells us, they've only played it separately in the England studio. Despite all of that, they attempt it anyways, and it ends up being amazingly beautiful. Whew.
On behalf of every fan in attendance I would like to thank Strata and Finger Eleven for going above and beyond the call of duty. They weren't paid for the show, and there wasn't even a merch booth. People came to hear great music, and the bands simply were not going to let them go without. On a personal note I will say that Strata's performance was one of the most moving concerts I have ever seen. Their songs translated to acoustic so beautifully that people were literally gasping with awe. I'm not joking. At one point during "The New National Anthem" the entire crowd was moved backwards by the sheer power of his words. I've never seen anything like it. AnarchyMusic.net wishes Pete from Chevelle a speedy recovery and hopes they come back soon to kick some ass. To Finger Eleven and Strata, you will always have the support and admiration of everyone at this site, and certainly everyone who witnessed your powerful and brilliant performance. I've seen hundreds, maybe thousands of concerts in my life, and this was one of the very best.