The Del Amitri Concert, February 26, 1996
by Mark Normington

Alison,

February 26, 1996. Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio. The Newport is an excellent club across the street from Ohio State University, that might fit about 1,000 people. The opening act, Joshua Clayton -Felt, was excellent. Their loud guitar riffs and funky beat made the somewhat bored crowd come alive. Some highlights of the act were a slow version of "Three Strange Days" (School of Fish) and the coolest of all their songs, "Trumpet".
By the time Del got on stage the place was packed full of anxious fans and somewhat curious frat boys wondering who these guys were that their girlfriends keep talking about. They opened up with "The ones that you love lead you nowhere", followed by "Just like a man" and "When I want You". In the middle of the show they introduced a new tune called "Medicine". Looks like we've got another winner here. Next came the crowd favorite "Roll to Me", but unlike two nights before at V Tech. no one left. If anything it left the audience wanting more. They finished up the regular set with "Stone Cold Sober" and "Being Somebody Else", but not before Justin made an impromptu addition of "Die For You". When they left the stage the crowd was in a wild frenzy, if not a little pissed off that it ended so soon. After about five minutes they ran back on a nd performed "Tell her This" and "Hatfull of Rain". They left again but we wanted more. After about five more minutes of synchronized clapping they came out again and proclaimed us to be the best crowd in months. The finished the evening with "Driving With the Brakes on" and Be my Downfall".

Written by Mark Normington