Live, the band, plays live

Arizona Daily Wildcat

B movies, B.O.

I mean, where would Pamela Anderson be if she were only a B?

But assigned to seat B4 for the Sept. 18 Live concert couldn't have made me happier, despite having to take the shuttle to terminal two at Sky Harbor International Airport - the longest 100 miles ever.

Row B made the distance worth it.

The lights dimmed in the arena and 20,000 pairs of feet hit the ground. The members of Live - vocalist Ed Kowalczyk, guitarist Chad Taylor, bassist Patrick Dahlheimer and drummer Chad Gracey - blew kisses to the fans as they took the stage.

They immediately ripped into "Rattlesnake" the first track off their new CD, Secret Samadi.

"Lakini's Juice" and "Unsheathed" were the next songs Kowalczyk belted out. Before starting "Unsheathed," he unbuttoned his shirt and invited us to get 'unsheathed' ourselves in the 90 degree weather.

"It's nice to be back in the sauna of the universe," Kowalczyk said.

Kowalczyk is the 6-foot-2-inch front-man for Live.

He is Live.

Lanky as a microphone stand, Kowalczyk's emaciated ribcage was accentuated as he gyrated around the stage, like a man inspired by tongues. The strobe-light on his thin frame during songs like "Iris" and "Heropsychodreamer" was hypnotic.

Before singing "Freaks" Kowalczyk said, "This song has no meaning, there's too much meaning in songs. It's about milk."

The stage set enhanced Kowalczyk's rain dance. It was an elaborate set by Live's standards. The 1995 "Throwing Copper Tour" setting looked like the Wayne's World den. Just this April, Live performed at Union Hall in Phoenix as part of a small venue tour to try out the new songs. That stage was decked out with lava lamps and candles.

Nothing compared to the hanging metal arches and chandeliers at Desert Sky. The tarnished metal, punctured with shapes, ignited the different color lights. A nylon curtain behind five freestanding conical objects, resembling huge Olympic torches, illuminated the musicians. Turkish bathhouse or ancient opera set, I couldn't decide.

During "Lightning Crashes" a tribute to a friend that died in a car accident, the background was stark gray. "Turn My Head" exploded in color. The four massive chandeliers dropped five feet during the intro of "Ghost" while the purple and blue lights intermingled with the fog. A "Phantom of the Opera" appeal.

I am not used to audible dialect at concerts, leaving me to believe Desert Sky was the best venue in Phoenix for the show. It's equipped to handle a large capacity crowd and has a great sound system. The speakers were a bit bass heavy, though, and often picked up ear piercing feedback, especially during "Unsheathed."

The band's encore, "White, Discussion," better known as the "talking song" was filled with energy. Running off stage, Ed returned in a purple feather boa and sequined shirt.

Then he thanked everyone and left the stage. The overhead lights turned on.

Live had proved to Phoenix fans they weren't just "Selling the Drama."