Don't Be a Wallflower

May 7, 1997

"Nothing is forever / There's got to be something better than / In the middle" (from "One Headlight").

For the Wallflowers, that time is now. They've emerged from the middle with a huge hit that is now the favorite of DJs across the land. Arguably part of the alternative music genre (which is, inherently, rock), the Wallflowers' popularity has skyrocketed since the release of their first single from their second album last year.

Last Friday night, The Wallflowers played to a sellout crowd in the parking lot of the Hard Rock Cafe. The weather was perfect: "this-is-why-I-moved-to-Central-Florida" post-sunset cool breeze and low humidity. The Wallflowers arrived on stage, and, to the crowd's delight, plunged in with "One Headlight," their current hit. Later, about midway through the show, they played "6th Avenue Heartache," their first single from the album "Bringing Down the Horse."

Lead singer Jakob Dylan is the 27-year-old son of icon Bob Dylan. But that's all most know about him: he admirably keeps his private life, well, private. "Bringing Down the Horse," a collection of eleven songs of varying mood - not all of the same slow tempo that marks "One Headlight" and "6th Avenue Heartache" - follows their self-titled debut album of a few years ago.

Between songs, Dylan bantered with the crowd, including bringing a fan-drawn stick figure poster of the band on stage. The band is rounded out by Rami Jaffee on the keyboard, Greg Rickling on bass, Michael Ward on guitar, and Mario Calire on the drums.

Tickets for the show sold out days before: at only $5, it was a heck of a deal. Even better, proceeds went to charity, and over $21,000 was raised for Give Kids the World, a group that brings dying kids and their families to Central Florida.
Overall, it was a great show for a great price benefitting a great cause. You certainly can't beat that.

Andy Dehnart
I spend much of my time deconstructing my surroundings by writing. Other diversions: crossing the line, sucking down caffeine-laced carbonated beverages, pen fighting with the staff of the paper I edit, listening intensely to SHE 100.3, and analyzing my world with an overuse of superlatives. Also find me here.