Everyone always shits all over the late-’90s, but here we are two decades later, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who wouldn’t want to magically transport back to that generally carefree and simple era. And if you had the chance to do so, the first song you’d probably hear upon your return would be The Verve Pipe’s 1997 breakout hit “The Freshmen.”
Next month, we all have a chance to close our eyes and pretend, for maybe just a moment, that things are going to be OK as the Michigan band heads out on a 12-date tour that plays City Winery in Boston on January 14. It’ll be the band’s first Boston show in seven years.
According to the tour announcement, The Verve Pipe “will perform three different types of shows during this tour,” all depending on the venue: “A full electric rock show, a pared down acoustic/electric show of their hit songs and fan favorites, or an acoustic reimagining of their platinum-selling major label debut album Villains.”
Given the local date is at City Winery, our money’s on the two latter options involving acoustic efforts. Either way, “The Freshmen” — no longer a teenager — will sound fantastic.
In case you’ve been wondering what The Verve Pipe have been up to, the band, still led by singer/songwriter/co-founder Brian Vander Ark, released their latest and sixth studio record Parachute back in February, as well as a live album, Villains — Live & Acoustic. Villains, of course, was their 1996 LP that went platinum and featured “The Freshmen.” They’ve also dabbled in children’s music in recent years — see 2009’s A Family Album and 2013’s Are We There Yet? — but this upcoming tour is for adults only.
Check all the dates and revisit the glory of ’97 below via Spotify.
The Verve Pipe 2018 Live Dates:
January 11: Homer, NY, Center for the Arts
January 12: Asbury Park, NJ, Light of Day Foundation @ The Stone Pony
January 13: New York, NY, City Winery
January 14: Boston, MA, City Winery
January 17: Fairfield, CT, Fairfield Theatre – StageOne
January 18: Ardmore, PA, Ardmore Music Hall
January 19: Vienna, VA, The Barns at Wolf Trap
January 20: Columbus, OH, Hollywood Casino
February 1: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Abdo New River Room at Broward Center
February 3: Tampa, FL, The Attic
February 4: St. Augustine, FL, The Original Café Eleven
February 10: Grand Rapids, MI, 20 Monroe Live
Featured photo via Mitch Schneider Org.