Album Release Party--Friday, February 19, 1999
Campus Pub was completely on fire Friday night, and the guys really proved why their debut album will be a success. The show started around 10:30 pm with Casey Jones and Friends playing an upbeat opening set. Casey and Jodie sang beautifully together as the band collectively mastered their instruments with ease. Martha's Thirst hit the stage at 11:30, opening with a crowd pleaser called "All for Love," which is one of the ten amazing songs on the new album. The energy was high from the very beginning, and the crowd was very responsive to the excitement of the album release. Martha's Thirst played all of the songs on the new album including high energy tunes like "Someday" and "As With the Setting Sun" and smooth rhythmic songs such as "Pana," "Little Secrets," and "The Problem of Pain." And a Martha's Thirst concert is certainly not complete without feeling the passion of ballads like "Song for the Numbers," "Miles Away," "Singing of the Dead," and "Worthwhile."
Unreleased songs included crowd favorites such as "Comfy Shoes," "Grace Monkey," and "High Tide." The band also entertained music lovers with some well known covers such as "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel, and Casey Jones and Friends joined Martha's Thirst to rock on "All Along the Watchtower" (the Dave Matthews Band version) by Bob Dylan and later to mesmerize with "Romeo and Juliet" by Dire Straits. The crowd also got a blazing surprise when Urmy and Reg lit their instruments on fire during brief solos on the guitar and keys. Roley expressed his passions through the brand-new song called "No More Secrets."
The concert wound down in the wee hours of the morning with the tired but excited fans cheering as the guys said goodnight. The band members were pleased with their performance and excited about the excellent sales of the album.
Thanks to all that came out to the Pub to share this special evening with Martha's Thirst. The release was a complete sucess! We hope you will continue to support the new album, "From Where I Stand."
Benefit Concert--Dance Marathon
Martha's Thirst played a free concert on Saturday February 27, 1999 for the University of Tennesse Dance Marathon. The event was a charity marathon in which all participants raised money for the East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Martha's Thirst played about half way through the 28 hour event, and the band was very well received by the exhausted but happy marathoners. The band played for their alotted hour time slot, but the participants chanted "one more song" several times, each time their wish being granted. The guys kept the crowd awake and pepped up with fun songs and covers that the group could sing along with. Covers included songs from U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan. The band showcased each other with rocking solos on the guitar, bass, drums and keys. At one point during a song, Roley and Urmy ran into the audience and formed a dance line, leading the marathoners around the gym. At another point in the show, Roley told a touching story about the impact East Tennessee Children's Hospital had on one family he had recently spoken with. Dance Marathon participants were inspired and pumped by the awesome show.
Bird's Eye View-Saturday, February 27, 1999
Martha's Thirst grooved in the Old City in Knoxville, TN on Saturday at the recently opened Bird's Eye View. Singer-songwriter Greg Horne opened the show at 9:40 p.m. Martha's Thirst came on at 10:45 and played a 2 hour laid-back show to compliment the smooth atmosphere at Bird's Eye View.
Bird's Eye View-Thursday March 11, 1999
Martha's Thirst again hit the Old City's Bird's Eye View for another relaxing evening of great music. This coffeehouse/pub is a great place to kick back and hear some tunes. Richard Douglas, popular solo musician and frontman for local favorites Audio Poolside, opened the show at 9:30.
McGhee's Irish Pub--March 26, 1999...more info. about McGhee's
After a six month break from playing at McGhee's, Martha's Thirst returned to the loft to rock the roof off. At 10:30 the energy was high on stage, and the audience enjoyed sitting and standing in any corner of the loft, so as to catch a glance at the band in the packed Pub. The guys pulled out some old favorites to celebrate the return to their original playing grounds. "From Where I Stand" was advertised with their playing of most of the songs on the album, and the audience sang along to the familiar lyrics. Unreleased originals included "Comfy Shoes," "No More Secrets," "Grace Monkey," and "Wait." The crowd sang along on covers such as "Romeo and Juliet" by Dire Straites, "All Along the Watchtower" by Bob Dylan, and "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. The audience was at its peak, cheering and yelling out various requests as well as compliments to the band. The final song was a strongly delivered "All for Love" followed by the passionate finale "Song for the Numbers." The crowd wound down around 2 a.m.
Campus Pub--April 1, 1999
Martha's Thirst played a unique show on April Fool's Day. The band started off with some teasers as the crowd filed in, playing a few fun covers and improvising on some new material. As soon as the actual show got underway, Matt Urmy started to have technical difficulties with his set up. The band improvised a bit more as they tried to find the source of the problem, but Matt was unable to pinpoint what had happened. The "wounded" guitarist Urmy went down for the evening and watched the four man group from the sound booth. Roley, Reg, Al, and Jake were still able to play flawlessly on their respective instruments, and the concert went on as planned. They played all the crowd favorites from the album and the unreleased list. They even took requests from the crowd. The guys were bummed about Urmy's difficulties, but they promised a free concert in appreciation for the understanding fans. The crowd grooved to the music despite the missing guitar solos, and the show turned out to be a great one regardless.
Tibetan Freedom Concert--Moose's Music Hall--April 15, 1999
The doors opened at 9 p.m., and Moose's was packed with people--not only music fans, but people interested in the cause of the UT Students for a Free Tibet. The student group sat at a table with information about the cause, but they were also able to mingle and enjoy the concerts. Casey Jones and friends opened, followed by Lift Off, and the night rocked on with Audio Poolside. About 12:30 a.m., Martha's Thirst opened with the crowd favorite "Little Secrets." They kept the energy up by following with "Pana," "Party Song," and "Problem of Pain," where Jake was featured on the drums. A mysterious audience member then climbed on the stage to give his testimony to the Free Tibet campaign. After he talked for a few minutes, the band continued with a new song, as Urmy and Reg played an enitcing duo. Allen's shoes then came off for "Comfy Shoes," but went back on as the stage was flooded with various guest performers. Casey, Jodie, Laith, Nathan, Tony, and Richard joined Martha's Thirst for an amazing version of "All Along the Watchtower." The audience then grooved to "Grace Monkey" and the short show was ended with Roley's passionate "No More Secrets." Audience enthusiasm brought the band up for two encores, "All for Love--with an extended jam--and "Romeo and Juliet," where Jodie returned to the stage to sing alongside Roley. The fans were pumped from the rockin show, and bummed that it had to be cut short due to closing time at the club.
UT Battle of the Bands--Friday, April 23, 1999
Unfortunately, the event was cancelled halfway through due to inclimate weather. However, Martha's Thirst was able to play before the storm came. They were alotted 15 minutes to play their best stuff, and they chose an appropriate variety of songs in order to showcase their intricate musical skills. The band started with the swinging "Pana," and then moved into the gripping "Problem of Pain." The 15 minute segment was rounded off with the crowd favorite "Little Secrets," and Urmy played an electrifying guitar solo to end the song. The band was energetic and the audience responded well. Hopefully they will get to play again when the event is rescheduled.
Bird's Eye View--Saturday, April 24, 1999
Jodie and Laith opened the show with a short but sweet set, and while playing experienced minor catastrophes as Laith broke a string and Jodie's guitar strap fell off in the middle of a new song. They played several new ones and Jodie even sang a beautiful accapello song to make the opening set a success! Martha's Thirst came on at 11 p.m. Set 1 included: Problem of Pain, Remain (an old favorite), Singing of the Dead, a new one with no name (written about tragedies going on in America), Miles Away (with this cool echo effect), As with the Setting Sun, Pana, Cumfy Shoes, and Worthwhile (when Roley refered to Reg as "Reggy Poo!"). Set 2: House of Cards (a very bluesy new song), No More Secrets, High Tide (which had not been played in 6 months!), Someday (with a classy accoustic beginning), Grace Monkey, Romeo and Juliet (with Jodie), Song for the Numbers, All for Love, and Little Secrets. The show was very relaxing and as always fun!
Campus Pub--Friday April 30, 1999
Excellent Shag opened with a very Phish-esque set--absolutely rockin the place out! Martha's Thirst came on to play a short but fabulous set--Song for the Numbers, Cumfy Shoes, Party Song, House of Cards, Singing of the Dead, Pana, Little Secrets, As with the Setting Sun, Grace Monkey, All Right Here (very new!), the new one without a name, and Problem of Pain.
Jammin Java--Sunday, June 6, 1999.
The band was in their element at their home-town venue after a month long break from playing live. Friends and family poured into the small but cozy coffeehouse and left some fans standing outside to watch through the windows. Jodie and Laith played a beautiful 1/2 hour set before Martha's Thirst came on for about 2 hours. The crowd was very responsive and the band was right on their new music as well as all the album and unreleased favorites. The name was finally revealed for the new 'song without a name' as Matt Roley shared the inspiration for the song and called it "Texas."
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