Rock icons return to center stage

By Steve Moody

Fromtman and lead singer Trevor Hurst couldn’t keep his tongue in his mouth.

At least it appeared that way when Econoline Crush played the MacEwan Ballroom last Fri., Sept. 21. The band was in top form for all dedicated fans at the crowded venue.

They ripped into their opening track, "Sparkle And Shine," as if they were playing the song for the very first time. Following with older and newer hits like "You Don’t Know What It’s Like" and "Surefire," they proved that their four year recording absence had in no way diminished their edge for a live performance.

They worked the crowd like seasoned experts, tearing through famous tracks like "Home" and "All That You Are," while also blaring songs from the new disc, Brand New History. Hurst was in a truly energetic mood, wagging his tongue at the receptive assemblage for most of the concert.

The band wasted little time between songs, keeping the energy high instead of interacting with the crowd too much. Trevor did, however, tell the basic story behind the creation of "Trash," and did everything he could to see that crowd surfing was in high favour.

The lighting was fantastic, but still reflected the new simplicity behind their live shows. They stayed easy on the sequencers, but went heavy on the guitars and classic rock sound, they even managed to toss in a couple pleasant surprises, like their partial sampling of Nine Inch Nails’ "Head Like A Hole," and the inclusion of the ever famous "No Woman No Cry," a special tribute to the late Bob Marley.

After an amazing three-song encore, the evening finale, "The Devil You Know," was strangely suiting, considering the variety of musical sounds experienced during the rest of the night. They proved that no matter how a band changes themselves or their image, as long as they are true to their sound, they always will be the devil you know.