Soul Asylum Concert Review
Marquee Theater 7.16
By: Song River
Photo Credit: CowGirlZen Photography
“They say misery loves company
We could start a company and make misery…” and some where in the land of rock and rollin’ Minnesota around 1981 four friends formed a band called, Loud Fast Rules. Those four, Dave Pirner, Dan Murphy, Karl Mueller, and Pat Morley would go on to become Soul Asylum. A band that came on the scene when grunge had taken MTV by storm, music videos were the hip thing to make and the cry that video had killed the radio star was turned into an anthem song by the band, The Buggles.
Life sure was simpler then. So it would seem.
Although many changes over these past 30 some years has occurred within the band, the death of founding member, Karl Mueller, in a review found in the L.A. Times Soul Asylum was described as follows, “some unholy mix of Kiss and Hank Williams thrown under the wheels of a runaway train.” Maybe they were, maybe they could have been considered the precursor trail blazers of the grunge movement ala Nirvana or maybe they were just kicking the system in the balls to not be labeled anything because they just liked playing what they played.
Today’s current lineup: Dave Pirner – drums (1981–1983); lead vocals/rhythm guitar (1983–present), Michael Bland – drums/backing vocals (2005–present), Winston Roye – bass guitar/backing vocals (2012–present), Ryan Smith – lead guitar/backing vocals (2016–present. *Ryan Smith from the Melismatics has filled in for Justin Sharbono. Permanently? It appears so.) are out on tour bringing the same unique distribution of Soul Asylum’s marked sound. And why not? These cats still bag the righteousness they began with and their audiences responses have been the confirmation that a great MTV generation band can survive and go on to draw the crowds when their central rock n roll nervous system blasting at the core of what rock music intended… solid rock.
Bringing a mix of their older hits, “Misery,” “Black Gold,” “Runaway Train,” “Somebody to Shove,” “Without a Trace,” “No Time for Waiting,” “Spinnin’,” and from their newest album released in 2016, Change of Fortune, “Can’t Help It,” “Don’t Bother Me,” “Supersonic” to name a few, the vocal swelling from their fans was straight in time with Dave Pirner. These were die-hard buffs who joined Soul Asylum in unison at the Marquee Theater on July 23rd in Mesa, Arizona. This was a ‘soul’ love fest and the audience was more than happy to be committed to the asylum.
Dave Pirner had great fun with the audience making jokes, quipping one liners and bantering with their drummer the brilliantly talented percussionist, Michael Bland. Bland is most noted for being the drummer for Prince from 1989 to 1996. He also played with Paul Westerberg in 1996, Chaka Khan in 1997, and Maxwell 1998–2000.
With this current line-up that includes bassist Winston Roye, and lead guitarist Ryan Smith this Soul Asylum line-up just might be the strongest, most cohesive fit in the heart of who Soul Asylums thumbprint groove. They had a great time on stage and smiles with ease never lie.
Catch Soul Asylum as they are out on tour and winding their way around this year over to Japan come November, meanwhile pick up their latest CD, Change of Fortune.
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