SFist Chris: You're right on about the Zep II situation SFist Jon. Though I was not around to see Zep in 1968 when they broke out, last night was a definite Zeppelin '68 moment. This band has something extra, and it's not quite there yet, but the next album and then especially the one after that could be really, really special. There is a sense of delicious anticipation about what is coming.

If I could sum up Wolf's performance last night in one word, it would be energy and presence. From the second Stockdale appeared on stage left, goofy 'do silhouetted by the stage lights, and Ross stumbled bleerily into view from stage right, the shit was on. The audience sensed it, too. There was an expectation and a giddiness in the crowd that flowed from the energy and strutting and pure playing joy put off by the boys in the band. They basically came out and said, "let's burn this WolfMother down!" This is what it must have felt like back in the day!

And speaking of The Day, the Filmore was the perfect setting for a neo-classic hard rock act like the 'Mother. Such a historic venue, you can feel the spirit of the music -- past, present, and future there. From the posters and pictures on the walls to the familar floor we've seen in dozens of concert movies to the greeter at the top of the steps inside announcing, "Welcome to the Filmore," this hall has power in it, and WolfMother dialed into it beautifully.

I didn't like Silversun because they did sound so much like the Pumpkins. Lead singer is a dead ringer, and will probably play of the part of Corrigan in the inevitable Broadway musical of his life. I felt nothing for this band, but as you point out, they're skinny tie. Doesn't mean they're not good, they're just not my cup of beer.

Now the opening band, Simon Dawes, is very intriguing. A rocker/mod hybrid, this band is not long for this world. We see serious creative differences ahead, with the drummer and lead singer going skinny and the guitarist and bassist going heavy. Very Styxx, circa 1977, with lead singer Taylor Goldsmith showing a disturbingly Dennis DeYoung level of self absorbtion. A good band though. I would buy their CD. Goldsmith sounds alot like The Cure singer Robert Smith, which is interesting, but doesn't always work. Oddly, on a couple of songs, I thought he also sounded like Dylan. Dawes definitely has an edginess and creative tension that makes gives their music more of a hook than SilverSun.