Vertical Horizon has been called many things over the course of its long history as a band. The term “one-hit wonder” comes up because of their monstrous 2000 hit “Everything You Want,” which overshadowed almost everything and was the most played song from that year. “Band without a face” is another title they will sometimes be saddled with due to their stripped-down, no-frills image. They have also been called one of the most underrated bands of their time. Seeing Vertical Horizon lay down a strong set at Merchant Street Musicfest in Kankakee, Illinois showed everyone just how underrated they are.
Frontman Matt Scannell brings a great presence to the stage with his signature bold baldness, and a tall, fit physique clad in a button-down black shirt and black jeans (and black shoes of course). The entire band was “blacked out,” which is somewhat ironic being that their music is full of uplifting light. Scannell also brings the same great voice that we know from the band’s songs, but most of all he brings his songwriting to life. Scannell is the lone songwriter for many of these songs and hearing them in the live setting had me fully realizing what timeless statements of the human condition they are. Hearing hits like “You’re A God” and “Everything You Want” were impactful as expected, but it was lesser known songs like “Miracle” and “You Say” that made me realize how much the band transcends the 2000s time frame they are known for.
Much of the set drew from their smash album Everything You Want, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Like the band themselves, their stage set is stripped down and simple. Longtime drummer Ron LaVella had a decent-sized kit set smack in the middle of the stage near the back, and that was it. No smoke, no fire, no lasers, heck, they don’t even bring a tapestry with the band logo. It’s all about personality and the strength of the songs with this band, and I respect that. Scannell took time to address the crowd and let that personality shine through as he had fun with his inability to pronounce the tongue-twisting name of the town (Kankakee). The band was enjoying their time, and the crowd was enjoying their smiles. That certain magic that happens between performer and audience was in full effect here. Before playing their hit “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning),” which was an even bigger hit for country music artist Gary Allan, Scannell addressed the fact that he wrote a country song and didn’t even realize it. This might be the band’s most widely known song at this point, and it was evident by the crowd participation, which the band seemed to revel in.
We got a big dose of the band’s influences throughout the set as well. Scannell mentioned growing up in Worcester, Massachusetts (“Wuster Mass,” as it is known) with bands like Iron Maiden and Rush being what he consumed as a kid. In the set, we got covers and bits from Phil Collins (“In The Air Tonight”), U2 (“Sunday Bloody Sunday”), The Smiths (“How Soon Is Now?”), The Cure (“Lovesong”), and even a groove metal snippet from Rage Against The Machine’s “Bulls On Parade.” It was fascinating to hear guitarist John Wesley adapt flawlessly to so many different styles. Wesley, a masterful guitarist with a rich history, has done seven world tours as the opening act for Marillion, and four world tours as a member of Porcupine Tree. It’s not surprising to have him be a pillar of perfection. LaVella and bassist Mark Pacificar were also a rock-solid foundation holding everything steady.
As the band closed their set with the title track from Everything You Want, with Scannell labeling it as “the one that changed everything for us,” it was clear that this band believes in its songs. As they prepare to take these songs on tour with Toad The Wet Sprocket and Gin Blossoms, they will be adding a rich legacy of songwriting prowess to a tour that’s sure to make a statement.
SPECIAL THANKS
No violence… No arrests… Nobody passing out…
What kind of a festival are they running over in Kankakee, Illinois? A great one.
Merchant Street Musicfest was one of the best festivals I’ve ever been to, and much of it had to do with the people running it. A wonderful human by the name of Korie Worth, along with her crack team of librarians were running this show, and I’ve never seen anything more organized from a festival. It was also the gathering of a community made up of all ages, races, and lifestyles, and I saw nothing but pure joy on every face. Many thanks to Korie and the entire staff for the kindness and hospitality, and for making this a pleasant memory for everyone there.
Vertical Horizon is:
Matt Scannell – Lead vocals, guitar
Ron LaVella – Drums, backing vocals
Mark Pacificar – Bass, backing vocals
John Wesley – Guitar, backing vocals
SETLIST:
1. You Say
2. Send It Up
3. You’re A God
4. Lovesong (The Cure cover)
5. Miracle / In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins cover)
6. We Are
7. Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)
8. How Soon Is Now? (The Smiths cover)
9. Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2 cover)
10. Finding Me
11. Everything You Want
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Hello everyone! My name is Scott Itter, but some know me as Dr. Music. I am a music journalist and photographer out of the Chicagoland area, and I have been in practice for over 20 years. I grew up in the 70’s with two big brothers that showed me all kinds of rock and roll. As I grew older I ventured out into different genres like jazz, funk, folk, and whatever else I could wrap my ears around. As I read every liner note and every Circus and Hit Parader like they were the Old and New Testament, I came to realize that I just love sound and appreciate all the people that create it.
I later became a stay-at-home dad and started honing my writing and photography skills to keep my mind from turning into mashed peas. My kids are now adults, my mind is only slightly mushy, and I am thrilled to have the honor of presenting my work to you!
