Deep in the woods of Pelham, Tennessee, The Caverns turned into a natural echo chamber for a night of alt-rock nostalgia. The underground venue’s walls amplified every drum hit, chorus, and shout from the crowd.
Detroit’s Sponge kicked things off with a gritty, confident set. By the third song, Glue, the crowd was fully locked in as Vinnie Dombroski’s energy and steady stage control filled the space.
Local H followed with pure, high-octane energy. Their drummer barely stopped moving, tearing through Bound on the Floor as fans screamed every lyric. It was loud, sweaty, and alive. Especially when lead singer and guitarist, Scott Lucas, climbed on the speakers, feeding off the cave’s raw reverb.
Everclear closed the night to a packed 1200 cap room buzzing with anticipation. Fans chanted Short Skirt/Long Jacket and Smells Like Teen Spirit before the band took the stage, and when the opening chords of Electra Made Me Blind, the whole cave moved as one. Kicking off their Sparkle and Fade Anniversary set. Frontman, Art Alexakis, shared his reflections on sobriety, his MS diagnosis, and the stories behind the songs.
The setlist moved fluidly between the classics like Strawberry, Father of Mine, and Pale Green Stars. We might have even gotten a snippet of new releases coming in November. I Will Buy You A New Life rounded things out, reminding everyone that even after decades, Everclear still knows how to make an underground room feel like an arena.
A rock show in a cave sounds like a novelty. But on this night, it felt like a rebirth.
Photos: Jess Gruneisen | @jessgruneisenphotography
