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Life & Arts

JEW uses live set to keep fans enlivened

By Dusti Rhodes
The Daily Cougar 

It is difficult for any band that enjoyed fame in the independent music realm to merge into the mainstream without losing some of the momentum that carried them through their time of obscurity, and Jimmy Eat World is no exception.

Although the band spent a good amount of time enjoying "under the radar" success, its last two releases Jimmy Eat World (originally titled Bleed American) and Futures show evidence of a group aiming to move into a spotlight that includes higher sales and radio play. However, old and new fans showed up for a sold out show in Houston at Numbers, 300 Westheimer Road, on Wednesday in hopes of hearing the songs that remind them why they still love the Arizona foursome.

The band played a good collection of songs from many of their albums that seemed to keep everyone singing along -- only not together. From the front of the stage the band no doubt could hear the fans screaming along with all their lyrics from Futures, their latest release, and Jimmy Eat World, but as the band began to play songs from past albums Clarity and Static Prevails the bartenders in the back of the club had front row seats for old fans who were just as eager to sing along to the songs they came to hear.

Front man Jim Adkins proved the group has not forgotten those fans as he dedicated the Static Prevails track "Seventeen" to "all the fans that used to come and see (them) play at Fitzgeralds," and they were happy for the acknowledgement.

"This part always skips on my CD," said longtime fan Mikell Minus during the song proving that although his album may be worn out, his love of JEW's tunes has not. Minus is the bassist for local band Ultramagg that played a show with JEW at Fitzgeralds almost two years ago.

Fans also got the chance to hear guitarist Tom Linton sing some of his hits like "For Me This is Heaven" -- a nice treat since Linton's voice is not featured on Futures except in the background.

From the looks of it the band sent fans home satisfied despite what limelight -- indie or mainstream -- they saw them in.

Elefant preceded JEW with a set that may draw comparison to obscure acts from the '80s but in no way measure up to them. Some of the crowd seemed impressed and cheered as the lead singer led them into each song sometimes forgetting that he was using a British accent.

Reubens Accomplice was up first for the evening and was basically a lesser version of The Anniversary. Both acts paled in comparison to JEW's performance and any fan that didn't buy these artists' albums right after they played probably forgot by the time the concert was over.

Jimmy Eat World

@ Numbers

Verdict: JEW satisfied the appetites of past fans who lack an appetite for Futures.

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