Soul Asylum Rocks Downtown Atlanta

Last night I decided to check out the 92.9 DAVE-FM Presents THE 2007 GUINNESS OYSTERFEST featuring Soul Asylum and The Lemonheads.

I am a long time fan of Soul Asylum but have been out of the music loop with these guys for a few years. I was especially curious as to how they were live since the death of Karl Mueller, a founding member and their former bass player.

Being a resident of downtown Atlanta I had no excuse not to make the walk down to Woodruff Park to check the guys out. So I did!
Let me first point out that the FEST was pretty lame. The crowd was small and the entertainment, food and beverage options were limited. But it only cost $12 to get in so I will shut up now.

I did almost leave when I got there and found out that they were out of Jack Daniels.

How can a festival with Jack Daniels as a sponsor run out of the product? Fortunately they corrected this later. Regardless, I was hanging in, with or without my favorite beverage, for Soul Asylum.

I got to the park just in time to see The Lemonheads. The show was OK, not much energy. One of those acts that has more songs that you recognize than you expected. Plus Evan Dando was hanging out with a hot blonde after the show so he is alright with me.
I pound a couple of more Jack and Diet Cokes, a funnel cake and a jalapeno corn dog while waiting for Soul Asylum. And yes, I think it is funny too that I mix my Jack with Diet Coke. Enough said.

So how was Soul Asylum? I must say that I was impressed. Was it an amazing show? No. But for such a small crowd in a lame downtown park I expected very little. They ended up rocking out pretty hard and Dave Pirner kept me entertained with a small soap opera involving his guitar tech. At one point in the show Dave snatched his guitar off, threw it about 10 feet to/at his tech while rolling his eyes in obvious anger and frustration at the situation.

I was impressed after all these years and at such an obviously unimportant concert that Dave was still passionate about putting on a good show.
Highlight of the evening? Black Gold from Grave Dancers Union which Dan Murphy dedicated to Karl Mueller with the tacked on remark of, "he couldn't be here tonight".
The bottom line, Soul Asylum rocked downtown Atlanta.

My personal scorecard for the evening, 2 Guinness, 4 Jack and Diet Cokes, 1 jalapeno corn dog, 2 funnel cakes, 1 Lemonheads and 1 seriously rocking good time thanks to Soul Asylum.
Trust me, fat, drunk, and rocking and rolling is not a bad way to go through life!