Sugar Ray at Meeting Street Fest

Photos/words by Sean Rayford

Thirty years ago I went to see Sugar Ray and Smashmouth with friends in DC at the 9:30 Club. But it was sold out.

After being separated from our convoy trying to find a Denny’s, my friend Kate and I spent the night driving around listening to the Violent Femmes. There were no cell phones and it was a good night.

With Sugar Ray slated to headline the Meeting Street Festival in West Columbia on Saturday, I shared my nostalgic story on social media, also including a stairwell encounter with Mark McGrath in the old Frank McGuire arena in the late 90’s.

About thirty minutes into the set on Saturday, McGrath starts talking about the Violent Femmes and the band launches into Blister in the Sun. My jaw drops, and I get a text message from Ben Walker, “Sugar Ray just started playing a Violent Femmes song.” I laugh out loud.

Midway through the song, the band stops and McGrath says he’s going to talk about politics. He gets booed.

“We’ve been at war with Smash Mouth for 30 years,” he says, and the boos turn into laughs.

Sugar Ray resumes Blister in the Sun and my post about not being a fan of the band becomes a lie.

If you’d like to learn about concert photography, I’ve been doing it for 30 years and offer personal private Photo Workshops.