Jimmy Eat World

with At The Drive-In

Echo Lounge, Atlanta, GA • March 11, 1999

Roi J. Tamkin

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Jimmy Eat World blew into Atlanta like a fierce summer storm. The Mesa, Arizona band was on tour promoting their third full length CD, Clarity . Opening for the band at the Echo Lounge was At The Drive-In.

At The Drive-In came on stage and hit the audience hard with their angry, aggressive punk sound. The lead singer seemed to be at war with his microphone, hitting it numerous times with his face and trying to stuff it through his eye between screaming his lyrics at the audience. The performance was loud, furious, and fast. When this band starts headlining, they will definitely leave the audience bruised and begging for more.

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Jimmy Eat World jumped onstage and maintained that high energy from start to finish. Their professionalism and stage presence did tone things down (no declaring war on their instruments), but the band played with an intensity that tore up the crowd.

Local airplay of their single, “Lucky Denver Mint,” and a video played on MTV brought out a full house to the Echo Lounge. As a photographer, I was having a bitch of a time wrestling with the other photogs for the prime shooting spot. I climbed on stage, determined to get the best photo. I got something more. I almost got brained by Rick Burch’s bass as he thumped around on-stage, keeping rhythm with Zach Lind’s drumming. Jim Adkins’ strong singing was matched by his violent moves, thrashing out guitar chords with fellow guitarist/singer Tom Linton.

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They played through their set list with each song better than the last. Jimmy Eat World rocked the house that night. It all went by so fast, and I can’t wait to see them again. ◼