Orlando, FL – From deep cuts to fan favorites there was a little something for everyone when Everclear brought the “Sparkle and Fade 30th Anniversary Tour” to Orlando’s Plaza Live.
The setlist spanned every track on the album that launched the alt rockers to the top of the charts in 1995. But frontman Art Alexakis and his crew also packed in a cover and a handful of hits from other albums into 90 minutes of hard-driving 90s nostalgia.
The first three tracks followed the album order, with the rowdy “Electra Made Me Blind” kicking things off. Everclear blazed bright in the post-grunge era, keeping the heavily distorted guitars and quiet-loud formula while straying closer to radio-friendly pop. Exhibit A: The start-stop rhythms of “You Make Me Feel Like A Whore.”
Calls for requests elicited a chorus of shouts from the sold-out crowd before the band launched into “Father of Mine” from 1997’s So Much for the Afterglow. While So Much… continues the familiar big choruses and shades of pop as its predecessor, its songwriting doesn’t dive quite as deep into the despair and pathos as Sparkle and Fade. Tracks like “Heroin Girl” are about as direct as you can get.
While I don’t share much of Art’s life experiences, the feelings that come through the songs are very much relatable. The best example is “Summerland,” which falls high on my list of all-time favorite songs. Who hasn’t thought at some point of just throwing it all away, grabbing a bottle of wine and setting out for a place called Summerland? Who can’t relate to the guilt and shame of struggling with a vice that comes through on songs like “Strawberry”?
Mid-set was a raucous cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” with a few opening bars of “Crazy Train” mixed in for good measure. Local H’s Scott Lucas exploded from the wings to grab the mic and deliver a howling performance that was the closest we’ll ever get to seeing Zep headline CBGB’s.
What draws me to live music and keeps me coming back is the opportunity for familiar songs to take on new life when performed. At this show it was “The Twistinside,” a slow build song about the responsibilities of growing up competing against a yearning to stay young. The big finish pummeled the audience with a wall of noise expertly delivered by guitarist Dave French, bassist Freddy Herrera and Brian Nolan on drums.
The encore dipped back into So Much.. for “So Much for the Afterglow” and “I Will Buy You a New Life” before finishing with the “Santa Monica” they teased earlier in the set.
Everclear Setlist
- Electra Made Me Blind
- Heroin Girl
- You Make Me Feel Like a Whore
- Father of Mine
- Santa Monica (tease)
- Summerland
- Strawberry
- Crazy Train / Whole Lotta Love (with Scott Lucas)
- Heartspark Dollarsign
- Everything to Everyone
- The Twistinside
- Her Brand New Skin
- Nehalem
- Wonderful
- Pale Green Stars
- Chemical Smile
- My Sexual Life
Encore:
- So Much for the Afterglow
- I Will Buy You a New Life
- Santa Monica
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Keeping Everclear company on the road was Local H and Sponge. I wasn’t really familiar with either band beyond what I’ve heard on 90s Greatest Hits compilations, but they were the perfect companions for the tour.
I knew Local H was a two-piece — just Lucas and Ryan Harding on drums — but I wasn’t prepared for the volume they generated. What they lacked in numbers Lucas more than made up for in energy, racing across the stage, headbanging and hurrying back in time to the mic in time to let loose a raspy scream. “Bound for the Floor” was actually the third from the last song, and it was transformed into a long, drawn out marvel of hard rock. Other standout tracks: “President Forever” and “Hands on the Bible.”
While Local H brought the edge, first opener Sponge leaned into the jangly, guitar-driven rock that defined the early 90s. Somewhere between Stone Temple Pilots and Soundgarden (and maybe even R.E.M.), Sponge proved they can still rock with tracks like “Glue” “Treat me Wrong” and set closer “Plowed.”
Show Date: 10.07.2025
