Review | Tom Morello at The Vogue Theater

Wednesday night the Vogue Theater was alive with the rebel sounds of Tom Morello. It was a powerful show, that had the hundreds in attendance mesmerized.

While standing outside the venue, it was clear this would not be a normal show. Morello had just been over at the Occupy Vancouver protest and given a free show, to support the cause. Being the giving man that he is, the ex-Rage guitarist further showed his warm heart by giving out tons of free tickets to his show. The droves of activists swirled around the theater. There face a glow with the promise of the show to come.

Once we all started to pour into the old theater, you could feel it would be a great night. The energy level was high, the audience was eager and everyone was in great spirits.

The opening band took the stage pretty early. Thousands consists of two gents from Seattle. They have that indie folk sound, in the same vein as Fleet Foxes. It was a really overly relaxed set, something that actually pulled a lot of that initial energy out of the room. The band was quite good, but just didn’t seem to fit. It was really hard to watch as people continuously left there seats, and other yelled disparaging remarks. Regardless, the twosome played really well and deserves some listening – check Thousands out here.

During the interlude between performances the venue began to saturate with the patchouli oil scent of urban freedom fighters. Within moments that original energy was back. Jittery impatient bodies dotted the audience. That sense of eager impatience began to sink back in.

With little to no warning, Tom Morello stepped out on the stage. For about one half of the first song the crowd remained seated, but then one body rushed down to the front; then another. Within seconds the entire perimeter of the platform was lined with the clambering outstretched hands of the cluster. It was time to rock.

Tom started the night off with some acoustic pieces. Songs like One Man Revolution, It Begins Tonite, and Flesh Shapes The Day brought a powerful message, one that the audience quickly locked into. With the fuel that was the protest, this concert was the perfect symbiotic relationship.

This guitar master, was furious and passionate. Even with the softness of the acoustic he carried an attitude that you could feel in your soul. It sparked a fury in those in attendance; they too felt it. Soon the floor was in complete chaos. The occasional free radical made was on the stage and leaped off. These people had come for rock with a message, and Morello delivered.

This was an intense evening, more than just a rock show. It was a statement. It was fueled by the downtrodden and walked only those who have just had enough. Tom Morello came back into the lime light at the right time, the temperature of the world needs more people like him. His message about the hard-working man, and fighting corporate greed is one that we all need to embrace. And with these protests, it seems more and more have decided to do just that. Kudos to this guitar god, and his beautiful message, you are truly a man of the people.

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Tagged as: occupy vancouver, The Vogue, thousands, Tom Morello, Vogue Theater

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