Everclear’s enduring Gen-X fanbase packed the beautifully restored Des Plaines Theatre Thursday night for an evening that beautifully recaptured the band’s–and the audience’s–1990s heyday, complete with shout-outs to Q101, the Aragon Ballroom and Local H during a tight, bright 75-minute set of punk-infused power pop that showcased chipper frontman Art Alexakis and one of the most underrated song catalogs of the grunge era.
Alexakis, 61, is an early X icon whose lyrics spoke directly to many of us children of divorce who grew up in shaky economic circumstances. There’s not a lot of nuance and metaphor in hits like “Father of Mine” and “Wonderful,” but that was part of their rawly expressed appeal, along with Everclear’s catchy, driving wall-of-guitar sound. It’s not that Alexakis is unable to write beautiful lines–“swim out past the breakers/watch the world die” comes to mind–it’s just that he mostly chose to express himself and connect to his similarly wounded audience with urgent directness.
But a funny thing has happened to Alexakis, and to many of us in his fanbase as well. Surviving adult problems–in his case, getting sober, going through his own divorces and learning to live with multiple sclerosis–has had a mellowing effect. Alexakis said his punk friends mocked him for it, but he found himself watching a lot of Marie Kondo during the height of covid. He realized he was at a point in his life where he could simply embrace the things that bring him joy–family, friends, touring with his band, playing the guitar, singing and, this week, grabbing a meal at Portillo’s.
Which is why his dedication of “Wonderful” to his teen daughter made sense in the moment. And why he stuck around for 15 minutes after the house lights went up to chat with fans who came to the stage to shake hands, take a photo and tell them how much his music has meant to them. This is a band with devoted listeners, including the woman in front of me who sported a tattoo of Everclear’s green star logo on her right shoulder. She, like the rest of us, stood from the moment the band took the stage until they wrapped the encore with a singalong “Santa Monica.”
But for most of the evening, Alexakis kept the vocals to himself, delivering one powerful burst of 1990s memories after another. He wasn’t afraid to mine more dissonant tracks, including a fine “Heroin Girl,” and he was ably supported throughout by lead guitarist Dave French, bassist Freddy Herrera and drummer Brian Nolan. For all the old headlines about Everclear’s band drama and ever-changing lineup, Alexakis has found stability here, too. French and Herrera have been part of the touring unit for at least 15 years, and Nolan’s been behind the kit since 2018. As often as Alexakis has noted that Everclear is more his project than an independent band, his music has benefitted from the long tenure of this tight-knit team. French in particular delivered several propulsive, intricate solos.
Alexakis noted that when the band was in regular rotation on Q101 with the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins and, yes, local heroes Local H, Chicago was Everclear’s biggest market, so he always feels like playing here represents something of a homecoming. He also brings high expectations for the audience, successfully exhorting them several times to give the music the raucous response it deserves.
If all this brings a smile to your face, you’re in luck: Everclear performs Friday night at the Des Plaines Theatre’s sister venue, the Arcada in St. Charles. Sure, there’s nostalgia on tap, but it comes with vibrant music played by a vital band led by a frontman who finally seems to have built a garden where his flowers can bloom.
Photo by Frank Sennett
