Michael Gill

In support of the release of their recent album Sonoran Hope and Madness, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers took a break from big city venues to illuminate the Skinners Pub stage with their alt-country sounds.

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers stepped onto the Skinner’s stage at 10 p.m. Wednesday night and proceeded to entertain the over 300 in attendance. Left shortly after midnight were a lot of new fans, and many, many excited women.

For many at the show it was a chance to see their favorite band, while for the lucky few that came in on a whim, the $5 cover was money well invested. Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers are a live band?there was no disputing their mastery of the fine art of live performance. There was no pause in the energy after the show started at 10 p.m. Roger and his Peacemakers never hit the lights or slowed it down.

Being known for thier live performances, they did not prove disappointing to their reputation. Tearing through old and new songs, the Peacemakers filled the house with lively renditions of Refreshments songs, a Tom Petty cover, and songs from both studio albums Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers have done.

In concert the band was not content to just sit in the background, all musicians rocked with passion and soul to the point where there wasn’t any room in the air for second-hand smoke or bar drunk’s conversations.

As the front man, Roger Clyne played his role perfectly. His on stage charisma got people on their feet and dancing.

All danced except, of course, the 30 or 40 women who stood entranced by the independent rock god.

Cursed be me for not looking good in tight jeans and rocking like a man possessed in front of all that rock power. As a front man the first thing that needs to be learned is how to enthrall the women in attendance and Roger had obviously aced that class his freshman year.

Roger Clyne has been building a following with his old band The Refreshments and since the inception of the Peacemakers he has led the fore-running of independent music. With the Peacemakers he has broken into the top ten twice on Billboard’s Internet charts, being the first independent band to ever do so.

With the Sonoran Hope and Madness Tour, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers made thier fourth stop in Brookings before heading to Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, and the Viper Room in L.A. Judging by thier performance, the bars of bigger cities should have taken them. But sticking to thier independent roots and gracing Skinners with thier talent,thanks.