Paisy Jenny and Caroline's Spine
Lava Lounge
Sioux Falls, SD
March 23, 2007

Caroline's Spine's Jimmy Newquist Photo by Derric Miller

Caroline's Spine, one of those bands who never got their fair share of fame based on their sheer songwriting ability, came to Sioux Falls for only their second time ever. The first time, they played at the historic Pomp Room, and for those who remember that gig almost a decade ago, they were full of piss and vinegar. They actually had somewhat of a brawl with the house sound men -- they more than just "cared" about their music. Time and maturity has obviously added a new laid back element to the band, but maybe those hellraisers of old need to be exhumed, at least when they are on stage.

Unfortunately for Caroline's Spine, their opening act was the Hardrock Haven Band of the Month, Paisty Jenny. Caroline's Spine music is really a thinking man's music, while Paisty Jenny is a "I'm thinking about drinking" man's kind of music. While the two types of music didn't exactly mesh, there was something for everyone at this duo bill.

Paisty Jenny

Hailing from Lincoln, Neb. and recently undergoing a roster change by adding new bassist Gabe Mathews, this was Paisty Jenny's first real chance to show Sioux Falls what they are all about. They'd been in town before, once as the entertainment for the new Guitar Center and at another smaller venue, but the Lava Lounge was really their coming out party.

Paisty Jenny's Greg Lee Photo by Derric Miller

Gaining a reputation and being flirted with by various record labels, Paisty Jenny is a stage machine. Lead singer and guitarist Gregg Lee is the consummate showman, almost like he walked off the Sunset Strip instead of Huskerland. He plays the crowd, gets them involved, screams, sings, and jokes at every turn. Adding Mathews to the band bolstered their backing vocals, making the band even more complete. Where Lee is there to bring the party to the masses, understated but adept Johnny Ray plays the cool guitar hero, smoothly pulling off leads and solos nonchalantly. Finally, the powerhouse Sean Brandt is the other part of the rhythm section, almost like Bam Bam back on the drums, not just playing the drums but beating them severely, while smiling the whole time.

Paisty Jenny's Lee & Gabe Photo by Derric Miller

It didn't take long for the crowd to get sucked in. When they played songs like "Primadonna" -- especially with the sing-along chorus of "Fuck you, Primadonna!" -- everyone was yelling along. They played a myriad of songs from their debut CD, like what should be a huge radio hit today, "Crisis," and one of their most resonating compositions, "Belief." Tracks like "Anymore" and "In Video" had the crowd bouncing their heads around. They even played a cover of AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long," and instead of employing a scratchy falsetto, Lee belted it out perfectly full voice, probably surprising even their more knowledgable fans with the control he showed in his higher range.

For those who have seen Paisty Jenny play a few other times, this was one of their best shows. When you open for a band of Caroline's Spine caliber, you better bring your A-Game. Paisty Jenny did that, and so much more ...

Caroline's Spine

... which was one of the reason's why Caroline's Spine was a letdown. Where Paisty Jenny brought their A-Game, Caroline's Spine seemingly brought their "I'm in Sioux Falls Not Madison Square Garden Game."

Johnny Ray & Jimmy Newquist Photo by Derric Miller

Known for their hit "Sullivan," Caroline's Spine is a contemplative, intelligent, and talented rock band. Led by the mercurial Jimmy Newquist -- with his songwriting acumen and low, earthy vocals -- Caroline's Spine sounds like no other band in the industry. This will always be their saving grace; if they continue to make music, they'll continue to sell. They are one of a kind.

Some bands come off better on vinyl, CD or digital, though, and tonight, this was clearly the case. When the band took center stage, Newquist kept looking around like he was distracted, or based on their Pomp Room antics their first time here, he was pissed at the sound guy. He has an affectation girls probably swoon too, constantly pulling his long hair back and tucking it behind his ears, but during their first few songs, it sounded like this was a soundcheck. Didn't they do one already? And why was Newquist constantly looking like he's hearing the same joke over and over, casting snarky grins up to the ceiling in disbelief. Was the sound guy harshing their groove?

Mark Haugh Photo by Derric Miller

It took the band at least 30 minutes to warm up, although this was not guitarist Mark Haugh's fault. From the second the lights hit him, Haugh was spot on. He looked happy to be here. Surprisingly, the buzz around the crowd centered on drummer Jason Gilardi, especially from the other musicians watching in the crowd. Time and time again you'd hear people comment "This drummer is amazing." Typically if you go to a show and walk away with mad respect for the drummer above all the other musicians, you just saw Rush play.

One obvious facet to the band is that they march to the beat of their own drum, and not just their drummer. They don't care about the media, they have Pearl Jam's allergic reaction to labels, and they aren't trying to be "big time" anymore. This cultivates their mysterious vibe and makes their fans love them that much more. As they started playing more recognizable songs, numerous fans were singing along to every word. Everyone was smiling. Albeit their first 30 or so minutes was a bit droning, once they found their stride, it was captivating. The song "Wallflower" is going to be one of those songs that stands the test of time; every note of that song is original, analytical and haunting. Hearing just that song alone made everything else go away.

Jimmy Newquist Photo by Derric Miller

They played songs off all of their releases, some of the most memorable ones being "Attention Please," "Deep in Your Wake" and "Necro."

"Sullivan" is a huge hit, still today, in Sioux Falls, and a top request on a local rock radio station. That is their "Dream On," a song the whole crowd builds up to hear every night, and Newquist and company showed that years and experience have just made them a better band than ever.

Maybe it just took Caroline's Spine a little while to understand that Sioux Falls is town that understands its rock, and that they can't just meander through a set and expect the fans to accept it. They ended strongly, pushing their cold start into the background for the most part, and except for a few critical watchers, Caroline's Spine proved why they are the national act and Paisty Jenny is still trying to get there.

For now.

(Special thanks to the Lava Lounge and Bob Reisch for bringing Caroline's Spine to Sioux Falls. If you are in a band and are looking to play in Sioux Falls, contact Reisch at Red Razer Entertainment via phone at (605) 376-3520, e-mail at info@redrazer.com, or on My Space at myspace.com/redraz