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What the crowd lacked in size (150+ish?), it made up for in passion for The Rentals - and Matt Sharp and company didn't disappoint by giving as max show. The band was energetic, fun and smooth as you'd hope an experienced band would be. It was truly one the of best shows I've seen, with Sharp being every bit the frontman one would expect.

The band's line-up (which included Shon Sullivan of Goldenboy filling in on guitar) was teaming with chemistry on stage. Matt Sharp, Rachel Haden, Sara Radle, Ben Pringle, Dan Joeright and Lauren Chipman exuded both enthusiasm and musicianship.

The band played through the three new tracks on their new EP, while playing a number of songs from their first two LPs. But, as one would expect, the best response was for songs from the 1995 debut, Return of The Rentals.

The band stayed true to the original versions of "Please Let That Be You", "Friends of P.", "These Days" and "Waiting" (which was the final song of their encore) but performed a slightly revised version of "Move On" as well as the version of "Sweetness And Tenderness" that is on their current EP.

At the end of the show (which ended as it began with the playing of a Nat King Cole song), it was announced that another Rentals album is in process and another tour is being planned for '08. Fantastic. More Moog, more trombone, more female harmony, more Matt Sharp and more Rentals.

Labels: atlanta, Ben Pringle, concert review, Dan Joeright, deadjournalist.com, Goldenboy, Lauren Chipman, Matt Sharp, Rachel Haden, Sara Radle, Shon Sullivan, the rentals