Monday, October 13, 1997
Tonic refreshes audience with stimulating sounds
MUSIC: Fans empathize with intimate style of band’s moving
ballads
By Sandra Kim
Daily Bruin Contributor
Grandiose yet delicate chandeliers sparkle as the crystals
shake. They groove to the vibrating bass drum, the Led
Zepplin-style guitar and the soulful vocals of Tonic, the talented,
mature L.A. band who recently found success with its hit song, "If
You Could Only See."
On Thursday, Tonic came to perform in West Los Angeles’
beautifully decorated El Rey Theater. And, boy, did it rock the
house! With an amazing display of colorful, choreographed lighting
in a ’30s-styled room, Tonic proved that it can arouse a good
rock/
pop music fan with its guitar-drenched rock, various textures
and stimulating combination of music and lyrics.
The opening track, their number-one hit song "Open Up Your
Eyes," instantly set the mood for the entire evening with its
first-class energy and sound. Although not as fast and upbeat as
Tonic’s other material, this provided a chance for the audience’s
excitement to slowly rise. Later, the band would perform
faster-tempo songs.
The opening band, Santa Barbara’s Summercamp, provided fresh and
loud material from its debut album, "Fresh Juice." The crowd, much
of which was familiar with the power-pop outfit, clearly enjoyed
the half-hour set.
As more people gathered in the theater, the atmosphere
heightened. There was an interesting juxtaposition of the classy
architecture with a ’90s alternative-rock band. The concertgoers,
mostly in their 20s and 30s, created a friendly buzz within the
theater. They even socialized and interacted with each other before
and between songs, as if they already knew one another. This
down-to-earth environment only made the music of Tonic seem all the
more personal and intimate.
But whenever the band began to play, the audience, whether they
were fans or not, immersed themselves in Tonic’s music, thanks to
the brilliant strobe effects and color patterns that covered the
walls.
After the set of harder, faster material, the audience’s
emotions had a chance to settle down and truly feel the music. This
included the familiar "If You Can Only See" and the slow,
melancholy "Soldier’s Daughter." This emotional roller-coaster ride
allowed listeners to truly delve deep into the music and connect
with the band’s philosophy of sharing the power of music on a
highly personal level. In other, slower songs of the night, the
music became painted with gorgeous, melodic tunes and even Celtic
sounds (such as "Soldier’s Daughter," "Lemon Parade," and "Celtic
Aggression"). Tonic emphasized its talent and uniqueness with
beautiful ballads and body-swaying melodies.
With a musical style similar to an aggressive Dishwalla or Toad
the Wet Sprocket, Tonic’s music really rattles the soul. Songs such
as "Mountain" proved enrapturing, especially when vocalist and
guitarist Emerson Hart began a song with an echoing, passionate
solo, enhanced with the blurring guitar/rhythm accompaniment of
Jeff Russo and bassist Dan Rothchild.
Drummer Kevin Shepard captivated the entire crowd with his
highly creative, crafty drumming style. Shepard even ended the show
with an over-the-top, heart-pounding drum solo.
Although Tonic is probably a bit heavy to those unfamiliar with
Led Zepplin-influenced rock, Tonic gradually pulls you into its
music with its honest, upbeat and compelling songs. Seen live,
Tonic has the power to captivate and enthrall with its musical
talent (not to mention the performers’ good looks). A live
performance transcends the quality in the band’s debut album.
The Polygram Group
Kevin Shepard (left), Emerson Hart, Jeff Russo and Dan Lavery
make up the band Tonic.