The agonizing heat couldn’t keep away the throngs of fans anxiously waiting to find their seats in the air-conditioned arena at Centennial Garden as Matchbox Twenty performed to promote their new album, “More than you think you are.”
Even though the Garden wasn’t sold out Tuesday, the majority of fans lingered through the sets of Sugar Ray and American Hi-Fi to hear the man they were all there for.? The man of the night was Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty’s lead singer and songwriter.? The screams and cheers of the mainly female audience culminated in a dramatic crescendo as Thomas made a modest entrance atop an elevated platform amid the flashing lights behind him.
“(This concert) is where all of us together can celebrate life and listen to some good music,” he said to the crowd.
With that said, Matchbox Twenty rocked into their first number as Thomas suavely captivated the audience with his?vocal croonings.?Then settling down a bit, they played a newer song entitled simply “Soul.”? And soul they did have, all five members, playing together like a tight fitting glove.? Though slow, the song was emotional and inspiring, a song that could motivate and also be a love song at the same time.
Throughout the performance, one got the sense that Thomas was a man who intimately loves performing for people.? He was a man not afraid to expose his deep relationship to his fans as he poured his soul onstage while sweating under the towering lights.?
Even Bakersfield’s own Robin Mangarin of KGET-TV, Channel 17 immensely enjoyed the festive atmosphere as she and many audience members danced through every song.?
Though Matchbox Twenty’s new album introduces a host of new instruments, including slide guitar and banjo, fans still loved the new sound.? One of the new?songs called “Hand me Down” offered?waning and waxing slide guitar instrumentals backed by piano on the?ballad?that?wafted a soft melodic?ambience over the crowd??However, they catered to past radio-friendly singles such as “3 A.M.” and “Back 2 Good”, even pulling out?a Black Crowes’ cover to change up the mix.
Thomas showed his versatility on a song written by drummer Paul Ducette as he mounted a grand piano under the bright glow of the spotlight, looking like a modern rock Elton John.? The rock ballad soothed and excited the audience??while psychedelic projections of aurora borealis filled the video screens behind him.?
A three-song encore, which included “Mad Season,” a rock number filled with bluesy riffs, fulfilled the night for any fan not yet converted to their easily accessible and likable brand of rock.