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Written by Mary Beth Hascall Tuesday, 01 August 2006 05:13

When my group of four was seated at one of Finale's round, white-covered tables for former Verve Pipe frontman Brian Vander Ark's recent appearance, it felt like we had taken a small trip back in time. With glamorous, old-fashoined decor ideally suited for a swinging jazz performance, this night's sparse stage setup-only a set of acoustic guitars-seemed out of place. And though it seemed corny to some, I guiltily enjoyed the blue twinkle stars behind the stage.

With little fanfare, Vander Ark appeared on stage alone with acoustic guitar in tow. Sporting well-worn brown shoes and a beard, he launched into "Nothing But Time" with a humble hand. "I Don't Want to Be a Bother," another selection from his new independently released album, Angel Put Your Face On, followed tightly behind and featured smart lyrics concerning religious pressures and political agendas. To wit: "God's reception wasn't that good and the devil had a clear channel/if you wanna be rebellious you should tell them that Jesus is your savior/Jesus was a rebel, too." Two songs in, and already I knew we were in for an intense musical experience.

Vander Ark is a true 21st century Renaissance man. Not only a skilled singer and songwriter, he also served in the U.S. Army and has acted in several films. He also wrote and performed the tune "Colorful" in the film Rock Star (a film in which he also costarred, with Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston).

Although Vander Ark's set drew mostly from Angel and his debut solo album, Resurrection, he also featured a few Verve Pipe favorites, including "Villians" and, of course, radio hit "The Freshmen."

There were many highlights to this show. "1229 Sheffield"'s soaring vocals told us all why Vander Ark can easily stand solo and command a stage. Also, the touching "Someone Like You" explained the "creative purgatory" every artist faces and the muses used to get free. With a cover of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," we all floated back to the late '60s, settling in pure acoustic Beatles bliss. "The Freshmen," performed a capella, was an emotional and mesmerizing performance. I swear you could have heard a pin drop-no one stirred. "And Then You Went Away" closed the set with building vocal urgency and sadness.

Vander Ark's encore, Graham Nash's "Our House," provided an apropos romantic element to the show. "While I listen to you play your love songs all night long for me/only for me," Vander Ark sang as, from the audience, there rose a collective sigh...

So it was a song of hope that brought the evening to its conclusion. Glowing faces applauded Vander Ark's efforts for creating a memorable night of music. Afterward, it took a while to come back to reality. And then came the reviewer's quandary: How do you capture such an emotional experience with words?