Sister Hazel Amazing Live

Thu., Feb. 5, 1998

By Winda Benedetti windab@spokesman.com

Sister Hazel, Alana Davis Tuesday, Feb. 3, The Met

Having listened to Sister Hazel’s radio hits - “Happy” and “All for You” - as well as their latest CD - “Somewhere More Familiar” - I was prepared to brush this band off as yet another group taking advantage of the increasingly popular yet ever so indistinguishable roots-based rock thing.

Sounding like a cross between Dave Matthews and Hootie and the Blowfish, these five guys from Gainesville, Fla., sure can play a catchy tune, but they certainly break no new musical ground.

However, during Tuesday night’s show at The Met, Sister Hazel took on an energy that neither the radio nor their CD capture.

Their beautifully executed multipart harmonies sprang to life. Their mix of electric and acoustic guitars set The Met awash in a textured sound that felt charged rather than overdone.

Responding to the group’s good-natured vibe, the crowd danced in their seats and belted out the chorus to “All for You” as the band members stood in silent awe.

Guitarist Ryan Newell’s nimble string work and the band’s strikingly well-done version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Gold Dust Woman” helped me forgive the fact that as the evening wore on several of Sister Hazel’s songs began sounding just a bit too much like the others.

Alana Davis opened the show with a voice as lush and beautiful as her long curly brown hair. But as she warbled through most of her songs with a mellow air, her music seemed a better soundtrack for a nap than for an evening out.

, DataTimes

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.