A packed crowd of passionate Everclear fans got everything they could have hoped for at Bowstring in Wilmington, NC, last weekend. The venue was buzzing with anticipation before the popular 90s alternative rock band took the stage, due in part to an energetic opening act by Echostone.
This was the last show of Everclear’s latest tour, but you wouldn’t know it by how electrifying and hard-hitting every moment of the performance was. The band proved they’re still able to rock out just as much as they did decades ago.
Everclear wasted no time firing up the crowd, starting the night with the classic hit, “So Much for the Afterglow.”
The band leaned heavily into nostalgia, following that song with “Everything to Everyone” and “Heroin Girl.” But then, lead vocalist Art Alexakis asked the crowd who remembered hearing a certain song on the radio in the 1990s, and wondered who could sing along.
Of course, that song was “Father of Mine.” The way everyone joined in singing, even filling in the blanks in a few moments as Alexakis pointed his mic at the crowd, was an incredible and, honestly, emotional experience to be a part of.
Alexakis made jokes often throughout the night about how long ago the 90s actually were, which made the show feel like a reunion of sorts. Though the crowd was largely made up of nostalgic fans who grew up listening to Everclear, there were also plenty of younger faces, which made it feel even more special.
“Father of Mine” wasn’t the only song that the crowd sang along to, though. In fact, the crowd was able to sing along to most of them, including other big hits like “Wonderful” and “I Will Buy You A New Life.”
As much fun as the crowd was having, the band members themselves were also clearly having a blast. That’s what set this concert apart more than anything.
Their own excitement was infectious, and there was a playful vibe amongst them. Davey French and Freddy Herrera, in particular, were full of energy, and Alexakis led a repeated call-and-response of “f*ck yeah” with the crowd.
Davey French also called on fans to sing along to several favorite songs and to hype the crowd — not that this particular crowd needed any encouragement.
At one point, the band joked with the crowd by teasing introductions of various covers. They did, however, play their cover of “Brown Eyed Girl,” which made for another fun sing-along with the crowd.
The song that ended the night was another heavy-hitter that had fans singing along with excitement, “Santa Monica,” which felt like the perfect end to a show that kept the crowd engaged all night.
It is worth noting that there was some disappointment with this show due to the weather. Originally, this was to be a larger, outdoor show, but a day full of rain prompted a change to Bowstring’s indoor space instead. Alexakis made a point to mention this and promised that they’d be back another time for an outdoor show.
Perhaps that could be with another anniversary tour. Alexakis announced that Everclear has plans to honor the 30th anniversary of their album So Much for the Afterglow next year.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Eulalie Magazine and Tell-Tale TV. She has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches courses in Writing and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she is a Senior Lecturer. You can contact Ashley at [email protected].