LIVE REVIEW: Everclear in Plymouth (03.12.26)
On a cold March night in coastal Massachusetts, the crowd filing into Plymouth Memorial Hall was greeted by a scene that felt more like mid-winter than early spring. Big flakes of snow drifted steadily from the sky as fans hurried inside to see 90’s alt-rock heroes Everclear, shaking off the cold and settling into what had been a sold-out show for weeks.
I’ve been catching Everclear live since the days of their Summerland Tour shows starting back in 2012. Those tours were always a blast—lineups packed with ’90s staples like Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit, and Marcy Playgroundsupporting Everclear. I’m still not entirely sure why those tours stopped happening, but I wouldn’t mind seeing them resurrected someday—they were a perfect nostalgic package.
This current tour, however, had its own purpose: celebrating 30 years of the band’s breakthrough album Sparkle and Fade. Not surprisingly, the set leaned heavily into that era of the band, and the songs from that record still pack a punch three decades later.
Interestingly, the show kicked off with a pair of surprises for me—”So Much for the Afterglow” and “Everything to Everyone,” two high-energy highlights from my personal favorite Everclear album, So Much for the Afterglow. The momentum continued through classics like “Heroin Girl,” “Father of Mine,” and “Local God,” the kind of mid-90s alt-rock staples that still resonate strongly with the audience that grew up on them.
Throughout the night, frontman Art Alexakis sounded strong and energized. Alexakis—who has been open about his ongoing battle with Multiple Sclerosis—looked and sounded fantastic. His voice was clear, his stage presence confident, and the band behind him delivered the songs with the vigor they deserve.
In between songs, Alexakis did what he’s always been known to do—talk to the crowd like an old friend. One moment that stood out was when he mentioned that he is now 37 years sober, thanking God every day for the strength to keep going and to still be out on the road playing these songs. It’s a striking thing to think about when you realize Everclear has existed since 1992, meaning his battles with addiction were fought and overcome before the band ever even formed—a different narrative from the typical rock-and-roll cautionary tale.
These days Alexakis is the only original member left in Everclear, though longtime guitarist Dave French (with the band since 2003) and bassist Freddy Herrera (since 2009) have clearly become integral parts of the live sound. For some bands it can feel strange when the lineup shifts so dramatically—like with Reel Big Fish or even periods of The Smashing Pumpkins—but since these are the musicians I’ve always seen alongside Alexakis, it feels like the natural version of Everclear to me.
The middle of the set kept the crowd engaged with favorites like “Heartspark Dollarsign,” “The Twistinside,” and the raucous “Amphetamine,” before settling into a strong run that included “I Will Buy You a New Life,” “AM Radio,” and the always-welcome sing-along “Wonderful.” They even slipped in a fun cover of The Boys Are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy, which the crowd seemed more than happy to shout along with.
The inevitable closer, of course, was “Santa Monica,” and as soon as those opening chords rang out, the entire room seemed to lift a notch. Nearly thirty years on, it still hits with the same bittersweet punch that made it a radio staple in the first place.
Despite the snowy weather outside, the show inside Plymouth Memorial Hall felt warm, nostalgic, and full of life. Everclear sounded tight, energetic, and genuinely appreciative of the crowd that came out to celebrate this era of their music.
And judging by Alexakis’ comments onstage, next year could bring another celebration—when So Much for the Afterglow officially turns 30. If that tour happens, I have a feeling plenty of us will be there again, singing every word, “with his big black boots, and an old suitecase”.
Everclear have three more New England shows scheduled this weekend, playing at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den tonight, The Cabot in Beverly tomorrow, and Nashua Center for the Arts on Sunday. Tickets for those shows can be purchased – HERE.
Photos – Everclear at Plymouth Memorial Hall in Plymouth, MA on March 12th:
