For guitarist Eric Schenkman of the Spin Doctors, revisiting old music is just as exciting as writing new music. So 20 years after the release of their hit album ‘Pocket Full of Kryptonite,’ he and his bandmates didn’t mind revisiting it.

‘It sort of lit up the band,’ he said.

The Spin Doctors, a band that topped the charts in the early ‘90s, electrified Friday evening at the Westcott Theater on their album’s 20th anniversary tour. Fans heard the album played live in its entirety during the relaxed, no-frills show.

Sam Levey, co-owner of the Westcott Theater, said he was happy to have the Spin Doctors perform.

‘They’re a great band celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album release, and a lot of people who were fans of them back in the day are going to be here,’ he said.

The concert also attracted younger fans of the Spin Doctors, including Dan Blaushild, a sophomore illustration major.

‘I really like ‘Pocket Full of Kryptonite,’ but other than that, I don’t really know anything about them,’ he admitted.

The concert opened as solo musician James Maddock climbed to the stage and hung his guitar around his neck. As he began to strum alone, his raspy, full voice filled the stage. His tender chords and sincere performance gripped the audience.

After Maddock’s last song ended, the Spin Doctors took the stage. Hopping up the steps and smiling to the crowd at their feet, the band members casually settled in their places and played the opening chords of the first song, ‘Jimmy Olsen’s Blues.’ A sense of ease emanated from the stage and settled over the audience.

‘Twenty years makes you a little more laid-back, a little more mature. The music basically sounds bigger than it used to because we’re more relaxed now,’ Schenkman said.

The members’ performance showcased this ease. Lead singer Chris Barron’s voice glided effortlessly over the crowd, with all of the crystal clear quality heard on the album 20 years earlier.

‘We’re kind of known as a jam band,’ he said to the audience. He joked that once the band got started on a song, it could go on for three hours.

Each member took extended solos at times, improvising casually on the spot and responding to audience cheers and calls for encores.

Drummer Aaron Comess played alone for more than 10 minutes, but he maintained an interesting nonmelodic piece by adapting the tempo from slow and nonchalant to wildly fast. Bassist Mark White entertained with a drawn-out bass solo flowing with funk. Schenkman scattered rapid, blazing guitar solos through songs as his adept fingers provoked the crowd’s cheers.

The easygoing performance didn’t lack in energy. Chris Barron, with his flying high kicks and Michael Jackson-esque spins, called upon the already dancing audience to sing along with him. From the first to the final song, fans danced, sang and cheered dynamically with the band.

Schenkman summed up both the relaxed energy of the crowd and the band before the show.

‘If you’re a musician for life like we all are, I don’t think (the) energy dissipates that much over the course of 20 years.’

ggriccar@syr.edu

Published on October 22, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Gabriela: ggriccar@syr.edu