(Special thanks to Jessie for typing up this article!)

Thursday, November 30, 2000
The Spectator (the newspaper of UW-Eau Claire)

Bringing down the house

Wallflowers' rule in latest concert


By Tim Ruzek
The Spectator

     Not too many big-name bands make a stop in Eau Claire.  The Wallflowers know this and make a point of stopping by the campus. We care-that's the difference.  Wallflowers frontman Jakob
Dylan said to the student-filled crowd.  It was an obvious reference to the
band's next and last set song The Difference, and a highlight of the show.
    The band, known for its radio success from its last album, Bringing Down the Horse, showed its ability to care while rocking Zorn Arena Wednesday night with a balanced set of song from its albums.
    The five-man group, along with the help of an extra guitarist,
started the show off with its newest radio hit, Sleepwalker, a song off their latest album, Breach. A good number of songs came off Breach, which Dylan accidentally introduced as a song.  The song was actually Letters from the Wasteland, a track off the new album.  After momentarily laughing at himself for the mistake, Dylan covered all his bases. This song is Letters from the Wasteland from whatever album you're listening to, he said.
    A smiling, joking Dylan, who looked to be having a good time throughout the concert, created a surprising aspect of the show, considering his usual straight-faced, tired and reserved look. In other words, Dylan ruled- or at least tried to rule. "I'm trying," the lead singer said to an enthusiastic audience member. "All I'm trying to do is rule.  Dylan and his band mates proved just how much they ruled through their rock-enhanced versions of previous radio-friendly, lighter hits as Three Marlenas and One Headlight.  Joking that he usually plays the intro guitar part to the song but
has the wrong guitar, Dylan tossed the spotlight over to the grinning-faced Ward, who immediately jumped into the spacey guitar opener.
With Dylan taking the low ground and Ward covering the higher ground vocally during the One Headlight chorus and in many of the group's other songs, the combo made for a pleasant mix.
    "I thought this was better than the last time,"  junior Dan Sturtevant said, comparing Wednesday night's show to The Wallflower's last visit to the campus in March of1997.
     Singing in his recognizable style of right hand cupped over the top of the mike, eyes closed and low, laid-back vocals flowing out, Dylan was a main attraction to fans.  He's very hot- he's a babe, high schooler Emily Wolf said
after the show.  I'm going to go out and buy their new CD right away.
The son of music legend Bob Dylan took on a stage presence similar to his dad's when he strapped on an acoustic guitar for the two newer song,  Hand Me Down and I've Been Delivered.
    The group came out for three encores, the first consisting of a trio of Wallflowers-Ward, bassist Greg Richling, and drummer Mario Calire, playing the Blur tune Song 2. The finale encore, Won't Get Fooled Again by the Who, had Dylan
and the rest of the band on stage to give a true rock'n roll send off.
It included an eye-blowing light show, and a promise from Dylan that the group would return.

(Just to show how much this reporter knows, he constantly referred to Michael
Ward, as War!)