Hey, at least Tolcher was good

Friday night's Jim Beam Live Concert Series in Indianapolis could've been great. Sadly, though, it left the audience with a good sound in their ears but a bad taste in their mouths. \nMaroon 5, the concert's headliner, was celebrating the recent news that their album, Songs About Jane, has been certified gold, and Indianapolis was introduced to up and coming stunner Michael Tolcher.\nMaroon 5 threw a good show, but something felt a little bored. They played the majority of songs on their album, including a shortened and chopped up version of the single "Harder to Breathe," which was still ultimately successful. It was truncated, yes, but somehow hit harder. The band also showcased a new song called "Wasted Years," which shows a lot of promise. For an encore, the band performed, at one sign holder's request, an older song, "Woman." \nAnd for the finale, they played their ever-popular cover of Nine Inch Nails' song "Closer." The music was good and the sound was on, but the show lacked the energy that the band used to have. Is Maroon 5 getting too big for their britches? Perhaps.\nGavin DeGraw, perhaps the crowd favorite, played a near-full set, including the catchy "Chemical Party" and his up-and-coming single "Chariot." DeGraw is a gifted musician and performer, but somebody needs to teach him some manners -- he stopped his performance numerous times to address light and audio issues. \nThe first act of the evening, the Atlanta-based Michael Tolcher, had the best sound of the night. His Jason Mraz-meets-O.A.R.-meets-Everclear sound was a huge hit. He was all fresh-faced energy, and was the night's only act who really seemed to relish the chance to perform.\nThe issue of the venue must be addressed. The Northside Knights of Columbus should be banned from hosting concerts until they address their major technical issues. The stage, a foot high at best, was six feet away from the front row and the askew lighting left both edges of the stage in perpetual shadows. \nThe crowd, a high school-heavy mix of young adults, needed to loosen up. A lot. Overheard: "Is there something wrong with this crowd, or is it just me?" \nAnswer: "Yeah, they're too young and too sober." \nEverybody sounded great, but ultimately, a dull crowd mixed with a terrible venue made for an unsatisfying, disappointing concert experience.