Alex Clare, sings 'Tight Rope' Tuesday night at the Marquee Theater. He performed songs from his debut album 'The Lateness of the Hour.' (Photo by Perla Farias)It involved an army of fervent fans, a well-timed joke about English teeth and band members that looked more like bouncers than the actual bouncers. Tuesday night at The Marquee Theatre was a whirlwind party, the likes of which wouldn't have been out of place at any one of the clubs down the road on Mill Avenue.
Alex Clare, the English soul rocker whose music rocketed to the top of last summer's Billboard charts after his single "Too Close" appeared in several commercials, brought more than just his signature raspy croon to this headlining show. He took his audience on a 75-minute roller coaster ride across genres, bridging experimental rock, a romantic acoustic set and soul in rapid succession.
Opening for Clare was New York duo The Knocks, which at first listen was surprising, because The Knocks is an electronic act that produces music that would fit right in at a Havana nightclub. Most days, Clare's impressive growl and equally impressive beard give the impression he'd be at home in the midst of a mountain range very far away from the Cuban capital. But the night
Alex Clare performs at the Marquee Theater on Tuesday night. He performed songs from his debut album 'The Lateness of the Hour.' (Photo by Perla Farias)went on to prove that the match was made in heaven.
Clare started off with some of the weaker tracks from his debut album, "The Lateness of the Hour," but things quickly turned around after an acoustic interlude that segued into the jazzy, provocative "Hands are Clever."
The up-tempo turn in the music didn't let up after that. Clare and his band played crowd favorites like "Treading Water" and the heavy "Up All Night." The latter worked the crowd up into a frenzy, with energetic audience members jumping and yelling along to his every word. The performance was so intense, in fact, that Clare had to leave the stage afterward to recuperate for a moment before jumping back into the fray. Not that the audience was abandoned — quite the opposite happened as Clare's band members began a musical interlude that was rhythmic and tribal, which kept the audience, still flying high on the back of the "Up All Night" performance, excited.
Clare brought something very interesting to the table — a table that is already weighed down with a dozen other guitar-wielding, rock-inclined soul singers. His live act is grungy, featuring strains of South American funk and dubstep that translate better into live music than they do in his recorded songs.
Perhaps the lesson of the night was to check any preconceived notions about which genres of music should or should not mix at the door. If the Clare show proved anything, it's that an eclectic group of guys can weave together a dynamic, arena-ready mix of rock and funk into something that has fans flinging themselves around with abandon.
It was a fun night spent in the company of ultra-devoted Clare fans who looked at him as though he was providing them the air they were breathing. And he returned the favor with a wave of bright smiles that prompted one fan to comment on his "nice teeth."
"Aw, you're only saying that because I'm English," Clare quipped. To the audience, he said, "She said I have nice teeth, which is remarkable for an Englishman. You mustn't say that. Don't make generalizations like that."
Fair point, Clare. His show struck out on its own, leaving generalizations and expectations behind. It was worth every minute.
Alex Clare performs at the Marquee Theater on Tuesday night. He performed songs from his debut album 'The Lateness of the Hour.' (Photo by Perla Farias)Reach the reporter at svhabib@asu.edu or on Twitter @discoanddessert
