THE PENDULUM

by Alexa Milan, May 14, 2008

As fans were already starting to line up outside a half an hour before the doors were set to open, laughter and thuds could be heard from inside Alumni Gym. As the Student Union Board executive staff and volunteers made their way into the gym for a meet-and-greet, Sister Hazel and Matt Nathanson were found trying to dislodge a basketball they had gotten stuck between the rim and the backboard.

After regaining some composure, the guys dropped what they were doing and signed autographs for the staff, chatting animatedly all the while. This encounter provided just a glimpse of the jovial, personable nature Sister Hazel and Matt Nathanson would bring to the stage May 9.

Sister Hazel bassist Jett Beres said he couldn't believe the band has been around so long and never played at Elon before.

"Everyone we’ve met since we’ve been here has been great,” Beres said. “So we’re excited to rock out for you guys.”

The enthusiastic Elon crowd showed its appreciation for all the bands that played at the spring concert, starting with local favorite Anonymous. Made up of Elon alumni, Anonymous used to play regularly at Lighthouse before it closed and said they were happy to be back performing for an Elon audience.

After Anonymous finished playing a set of its rock-reggae-funk-jazz-infused music, the crowd went wild as Matt Nathanson took the stage. Though he sometimes plays with a band, this time he chose to perform solo.

According to Nathanson, connecting with people is the best part of touring.

"I know that sounds kind of hippie,” Nathanson said. “I could say like drugs or sleepless nights, but it really is about being able to connect with the crowd.”

Connecting with the crowd is something Nathanson does well. Between songs he talked to the audience in a manner resembling stand-up comedy. Nathanson gladly obliged as the audience shouted out songs they wanted him to play, including his cover of “Laid” from the movie “American Wedding,” a song he rarely plays.

"I wrote this song this morning just for you,” Nathanson said before one song. “On a napkin. With a Crayola crayon.”

Nathanson was joking, but he made up for it later in the show when he improvised a song about his love for Elon. Once Nathanson finished his set, the crowd showed just as much enthusiasm for Sister Hazel.

Together for more than a decade, Sister Hazel played both newer songs and old favorites that will appear on its upcoming acoustic album.

"I don’t think you can play as many shows as we have and not evolve as musicians,” lead singer and acoustic guitarist Ken Block said.

This was illustrated in the set of songs they played; it was clear that after all their time together, Sister Hazel’s high energy and enthusiasm haven’t changed. During songs like “Change Your Mind” and “Happy,” the crowd danced and sang along as the band jumped around onstage. The crowd went even wilder during the song “Champagne High” when Matt Nathanson returned to the stage to sing the second verse.

Sister Hazel’s music has been featured in a number of movies like “The Wedding Planner” and the TV show “Scrubs,” and Block challenged any fan in the audience to name two movies in which their songs appeared. The band invited the lucky girl who did to join them onstage with two of her friends and help them sing “Your Winter” from the movie “10 Things I Hate About You.”

"What can we do to top that?” Block said after the fans left the stage, before breaking into the band’s first hit single, “All for You.”

Screaming, jumping and singing at the top of their lungs, the people in the audience made it clear that Sister Hazel made the right choice.