In a perfect world, Seven Mary Three would have opened last Thursday night to a raging crowd of thousands at a much larger venue than Milwaukee’s Rooter’s Nightclub.
In a perfect world, watered-down pop-rock outfits like Three Doors Down and Default would be reserved for a small minority of musically-deficient kids who don’t know any better.
Sadly, this is not the case. In our world, great bands like Seven Mary Three are forced “underground,” so to speak, playing in obscure locations to half-capacity crowds topping no more than 350.
But that didn’t stop Seven Mary Three from rocking. The band, known by most in Milwaukee for its frequent appearances during Summerfest, is on tour again to promote its upcoming untitled CD, as well as its new EP, “Welcome Race Fans.”
One of the best things about small venues is the energy, and there was more than enough to go around at Rooter’s, even before the main act took the stage.
This energy came thanks in no small part to an intimate opening act by Brian Vander Ark, former front man for The Verve Pipe.
Vander Ark put on an amazing performance, his voice crisp and even more powerful than in his early years with The Verve Pipe. Even the crowd, just beginning to flow in for the headliner mid-set, seemed impressed with Vander Ark, whose fast-paced set kept everyone’s ears perked.
As with any concert in Milwaukee, the headliner was seemingly not allowed take the stage before the local radio personalities promoted WLZR-FM, otherwise known as Pure Rock, Lazer 103, and handed out a handful of promotional items.
One of these promotional items found its way into my hands by divine luck and I quickly pulled away from the now-frenzied crowd.
Much to my dismay, not only was this NOT a Seven Mary Three hat, but it was an ORANGE hat that could never possibly be worn in public, lest someone mistake me for a confused and lost deer hunter.
But this hat did serve a purpose, later. More on that to come, but now Seven Mary Three is taking the stage, and suddenly my hat means nothing as the band appears only inches in front of my face.
Vocalist and guitarist Jason Ross took no time for introduction, pounding through a few lesser-known songs before getting to the truly good stuff. But even the obscure songs provided great entertainment, as the entire band flowed together with experience and passion.
Ross delved into the band’s most recent single, “Wait,” with an almost- retrospective look mapped across his face, and it was evident during the song that this particular gem meant something special to the band. Guitarist Thomas Juliano slammed the idea home with a perfect, hard-hitting solo.
With only a few pauses to thank the crowd and the nightclub, Seven Mary Three managed to put together a much longer set than is typical for any band nowadays, saving its biggest hits for the end.
Even when the band played its biggest single, “Cumbersome,” there was hardly a difference in reaction from the crowd, which had been surging and jumping hard the entire time.
More than an hour and a half later, Three finally finished its set with “Water’s Edge” and a surprise Pearl Jam medley. When it was all said and done, I thanked the powers that be for not making Seven Mary Three more popular, as Ross bid the crowd a good night, adding “we’ll see you at the bar.”
And I did. And finally, that stupid orange hat became useful, as the entire band more than happily signed it and listened with a smile as I excitedly recounted my previous Seven Mary Three experiences.
There’s something to be said about an intimate setting for a concert, especially when you’re seeing an amazing, talented band willing to socialize with its truest of fans.
