The Daily Orange

Media Credit: Katelyn Anthony

Alternative-rock band Vertical Horizon headlined a solid display of rock music at The Westcott Theater last night.

You may recall the group bursting into the mainstream at the tail end of the 1990s with the hit single "Everything You Want" off the album with the same name. The band's song list spanned the band's entire career. Older songs were mixed with some from the group's newest album, and the wide spectrum of songs served to benefit them. These guys definitely knew how to perform, and although they are widely regarded as a one-hit wonder, they've churned out six records and are still rocking out.

A few other bands played before Vertical Horizon took over. Local band Silent Fury opened and the trio played six songs total, with a notable upbeat tune called "Kick Down My Door." If you like bands like Eve 6, you may enjoy these guys. Lead singer Mick Fury switched it up with both acoustic and electric guitar, and exhibited good vocal range.

The next act, Clayton Senne, was a solid prelude to the headline act. Senne is a talented young keyboardist with a voice reminiscent of Gavin DeGraw. He and his band jazzed up the night with an excellent cover of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition."

The crowd steadily increased by the time Senne finished up. During the layover between his act and Vertical Horizon's, most of the people had moved closer to the stage. As anticipation built, Mark Vanluven remembered his hour and a half drive from Rochester to see Vertical Horizon for the first time.

"It's worth it. I've never seen them live," Vanluven said. "They were scheduled to come to Syracuse and Buffalo, so I had to make the trip."

Vanluven first got into Vertical Horizon when he heard "Everything You Want," and started collecting more of the group's albums. He even brought a copy of Vertical Horizon's newest CD, "Burning the Days," with him to the show.

For the group's opening number, some brooding, atmospheric, sci-fi like music encompassed the theater, and the stage lay desolate for about a minute or so. Front man Matt Scannell then came on stage with the other members and they jumped right into "All Is Said and Done," the opening track off their new album.

Vertical Horizon's second song was recognized by the vast majority of the audience, and a lot of smiles and nostalgia crept into the theatre. With "You're a God," Vertical Horizon pleased the audience and Scannell saved some lyrics for the crowd. "You're a God" is probably Vertical Horizon's other "hit" and it's also on the soundtrack of the Jim Carrey comedy "Bruce Almighty."

Continued...

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