So apparently on my 40-some-mile drive to Fairfax I drove through a time portal taking me back about 10 years.
As I arrived at the Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University, the marquee lit up with "Matchbox Twenty Live tonight with special guest Alanis Morissette" seemed surreal to see in 2008. After all, both artists released classic debut albums in the mid-90s, the caliber of which they could never compete with on future efforts. With "Yourself or Someone Like You" and "Jagged Little Pill" respectively, the two artists conquered the airwaves with more radio singles than album tracks on those efforts and sprung into super stardom on their very first major efforts.
And though neither artist has struggled since, they have both kind of maintained, quietly continuing successful, but not stand-out, careers.
I wasn't too sure what to expect at Friday night's show, but to say I was pleasantly surprised with the package would be an understatement.

Mute Math opened the show with a fairly solid set, although the arena seemed to swallow the band more apt to play rock clubs.
The stunning Alanis Morissette stole the audience for a hit-packed, emotional, energy-charged set that elicited a standing ovation from the near sell-out crowd.
She peculiarly stumbled about the stage, swinging her hair at her guitar players while performing near-flawless vocals throughout the set. Most notably, "Uninvited," from the "City of Angels" motion picture soundtrack, sounded equally haunting and intense. The crowd was most enthusiastic during "You Oughta Know" and "Ironic." Morissette picked up the harmonica for the mega-hit "Hand in my Pocket," which also had the loudest sing-a-long of the night, and a guitar for "8 Easy Steps."
She showed her funny side performing a very somber-sounding piano version of "My Humps" by Black Eyed Peas while wearing a pink feathered boa and being serenaded by her band.
You can watch a video of her version of the song here: http://www.alanis.com/video/myhumps.html

With quite an act to follow, Matchbox 20 carried a bigger stage show, with a lot less energy, but still a very strong performance.
A large, 4-piece screen lowered in front of the stage showing random images while the band's intro music played over the PA. The screen was lifted, revealing Rob Thomas and company opening with the band's current hit, "How Far We've Come." From there, it was pretty much a greatest-hits type of set for Matchbox, which makes sense considering the band's current album "Exile on Mainstream," is a greatest hits album with six brand new tracks.
Despite a few ballads, the main focus of the set was the band's more rocking tunes such as "Long Day," "Disease," and "All Your Reasons."
However, the band was at its best while delivering its more subdued material.
The back of the stage was closed off by a wall behind the band for a two-song acoustic set featuring a brilliant version of "Hang," the last song on the band's debut album, and the mainstream top 40 hit "If You're Gone."
This is the second Matchbox concert I have had the chance to review, and the band's performance, though solid before, was exponentially better this time around. The band has seemed to light a fire underneath its passion, looking at times like a young band, fresh out of the gate on a national tour for the first time.
If the band's six new tunes, all played at the show, are any indication, don't expect Matchbox Twenty to fall out of the arena-rock scene anytime soon. The material has a passion behind it the band lacked on "Mad Season," and hinted at on "More Than You Think You Are."
And if this show was any indication

Matchbox Twenty's set list (not complete): How Far We've Come, If I Fall, Real World, Disease, I'll Believe You When, Back 2 Good, 3 a.m., Bent, Hang, If You're Gone, All Your Reasons, Long Day, These Hard Times, Bright Lights, Unwell, Argue, Can't Let You Go, Push

Alanis Morissette's set list: Intro, All I Really Want, 8 Easy Steps, Hand In My Pocket, Underneath, new song, Perfect, My Humps, You Oughta Know, You Learn, Thank You, Ironic