Cherry Alive, the second recording by New York City band Eve's Plum, was one of the most promising major label pop-rock albums of last year, though it went virtually unnoticed by critics and consumers. The lead single "Jesus Loves You (Not As Much As I Do)" made a short stint on modern-rock radio, but any buzz about the band quickly fizzled. Despite their lack of commercial success, however, Eve's Plum has garnered a dedicated fan base through persistent touring and colorful, energetic, and emotionally-charged performances.

Eve's Plum concerts are unique rock experiences, filled with sugarcoated melodies and endless energy. Guitarist Michael Kotch spits out pop hooks while bassist Theo Mack complements him with skillfully melodic bass lines. Yet the most important person on stage must be lead singer Colleen Fitzpatrick, who shines throughout the set among the male-dominated band. With her vibrant orange hair, form-fitting t-shirt and brightly colored slacks, the audience could mistake Fitzpatrick for any random alterna-girl on the street that happened to stumble on stage. But from the opening song, she coos with a subtle energy that promises a good performance and engages the crowd. At times, she soothes the audience with her emotional side and then unhesitatingly jumps into a playful, fastpaced tune the next minute. Along with her talented voice, Fitzpatrick's presence on stage and undeniable beauty are key to making Eve's Plum successful in concert.

Fitzpatrick also helps by keeping the range of tempos and melodies varied from song to song. Even for a seasoned Eve's Plum concert-goer, the set list never loses its momentum. The intro drum beats to "Jesus Loves You" get the crowd bouncing on its feet as the audience anticipates the bright, saccharine song. Fitzpatrick stares listeners in the face and grins while singing "They say I'm damned to hell/Well, I'll be damned." The band answers the crowd's expectations, and people applaud the pop song as if begging for an immediate reprise. But the band's momentum won't allow a pause and Eve's Plum moves forward. They rock even harder on "I Want It All," as Fitzpatrick purges her anger and greed, and "Lipstuck," which she introduces as "a song about a girl that mistakes a glue stick for her lipstick." The lighthearted tone of the latter song creates a playful atmosphere among the band members and shows that Eve's Plum knows how to have fun. Incorporating the lyric "All I want to do is lick my lips and purr" into a catchy song like "Lipstuck" makes Eve's Plum is even more irresistible.

Pushing absurdity further, "Sticky and Greasy" ends its bittersweet (emphasis on sweet) love story with the lines "Lollipops don't belong here/shouldn't sugar reside elsewhere/What a mess!". Compensating for its lack of profundity, the band exudes energy as the sensual Fitzpatrick screams "sticky and greasy" along to a driving melody. Deep meaning is hardly the main concern of listeners at this point. Continuing this innocent approach, the band breaks into "Serious Stuff," a wonderful song with a great guitar line, catchy chorus and unexpected tempo twists.

A few songs, like "Fairy Princess" and "Wishing The Day Away," explore Fitzpatrick's habit of using fantasies to escape the melancholic moments in life. While singing these tunes, the lights dim and Fitzpatrick appears to be transported to a magical place where life's obstacles are forgotten, and she carries the audience and their problems with her. As an added bonus, Fitzpatrick complements the lyrics on "Wishing" with breathy non-verbal vocals that add an extra dimension to the illusion and broadens Fitzpatrick's appeal.

Despite the few technical problems and random incidents of feedback, the concert is almost perfect. Much of the crowd seemed like veterans of the Eve's Plum concert experience, recognizing songs after only a few notes. It doesn't take long to understand the main reason for the group's appeal--their musical style has no boundaries. Eve's Plum fans want only to enjoy the band's cheery attitude and listen to great music. The band allows the audience to escape into a sweetened technicolor world that washes their problems away for an hour or two. What more could anyone want?