Concerts

March 4, 2000
Fu Bar, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Hot Water Music

Fu Bar, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (March 4, 2000)

» DAVID THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

Hot Water Music
Fu Bar, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
March 4, 2000
A simple introduction growled by guitarist and singer Chuck Ragan launched an hour-long set that relied heavily on material from the group's latest and most impressive record, No Division. But the Gainesville-based group pulled from their extensive catalog to please a seemingly small crowd. During opening sets by Crucible and Louisville's Elliott, the vacant club slowly filled. At first it seemed the headliners might be playing to a half-empty and lethargic audience. Luckily, things turned around almost the instant "Better Sense" (from the 1997 album Forever And Counting) rang through the stacks.

The crowd surged toward the stage and sang along. Despite the audience favoring old standards like "Caught Up," it was the material from No Division that had the most musical appeal. Highlights from the new LP included "Rooftops" and "It's Hard to Know."

"Drunken Third," from the band's second full-length, Fuel For The Hate Game, appeared midway through the set and, with Jason Black's steady bass rhythms, it flowed seamlessly into "Free Radio Gainesville" from No Division. The two songs transcended the night of moshing, screaming kids and a less than sold out venue.

"Free Radio Gainesville's" chorus was shouted slightly out of tune from Black and Wollard: "There's an army charged, ready, armed to educate and demonstrate. TO THE MASSES! To the people left in the dark with blinders on." As powerful as the song was, it was later upstaged by another track off of No Division.

Ragan led the first verse of "It's Hard to Know" while Wollard picked up the second. The emotional lyrics of the song seemed intensified as Ragan's voice strained late in the set.

And by the end of the night, "Turnstile" motivated half the crowd to get on stage to sing. The microphones were lost at first and only the bare vocals were heard. Luckily someone found a microphone for the improvised chorus to use, and the chant effect worked well with the song. The band crowded around the drum riser as the front of the stage turned into a mass of fans. They kept concentrating on the music, bass lines, guitar riffs and drums pounding out a furious melody.

DAVID THOMAS |