But the Mullins Center quickly began to fill up. Soon, the entire arena was packed with thrilled teenagers ready for the main attraction: Matchbox Twenty.
The group opened with a fantastic rendition of "Bent," the first single from the album "Mad Season." "Bent," as well as many of the other songs from "Mad Season" and "Yourself or Someone Like You," benefited from the live experience. Rob Thomas' facial expressions gave the lyrics more meaning, enhancing the performance. Meanwhile, lead guitarist and background vocalist Kyle Cook kept pursing his lips into an O-shape in concentration, a mannerism that amused some of the audience on the floor.
Rob Thomas added some interesting personalized comments about some of the songs. Before performing "Last Beautiful Girl," Thomas said, "It's funny how you put a song out there in the world, and everyone has different opinions about what the song means. Let me say with complete authority that this song is about absolutely nothing." The group also covered "American Girl," a Tom Petty song that Thomas said he wished he had written.
The audience diligently sang along to the four singles from the group's first album "Yourself Or Someone Like You," but only the die-hard fans could join Thomas on the newer songs.
Thomas also performed two mellower songs on the piano. During "You Won't Be Mine," the spotlight on Thomas created the effect of a lounge singer. He showcased the breadth of his musical talent by playing acoustic guitar. "If You're Gone," Matchbox Twenty's soon-to-be-released single, was a slower song that inspired the audience to sway and mellow down. But the crowd got into the next song, "Mad Season," with renewed force.
The band seemed genuinely happy to be performing, and Thomas kept shouting, "Are you having a good time?" And the audience certainly appreciated the band's efforts-the floor was cramped with excited people, most notably teenage girls screaming, "I love you, Rob!"