When Clarity (Capitol) was released in 1999 I was a wee, fresh-faced, lad entering the lockered realm of high school. Fast forward 10 years and Jimmy Eat World has embarked on a 10-date mini tour marking the 10th anniversary of that release, and I have a beard.

At Club Nokia in downtown last night (3/5/09) the band played Clarity front-to-back in its entirety, which is remarkable considering the album failed miserably upon its release, subsequently getting the band dropped from Capitol. (They were, however, re-signed, and have been touring and recording ever since.) Not much has changed about the music, the lyrics are consistent, and front man Jim Adkins voice still sounds exactly the same. Yet something about the album spoke prophetic to the older, fuzzier me, ringing more relevant and poignant now, than when it was first released.

Their performance was well-executed and smooth, with Adkins stopping to take a breath only once in the first eight songs or so. Each tune was was nuanced with touches the band has clearly picked up in their decade plus of existence. "Goodbye Sky Harbor," for example, presented a more enhanced and fleshed-out outro with Adkins using a looping machine on his voice and a xylophone to give final melody to the song.

The ballads ("12.23.95", "Just Watch The Fireworks") were sweet and melodic, while the signature anthems ("Sweetness", "Pain") had the crowd singing along. Minus the occasional detour into sing-songyness, their pop/emo roots showed strong, proving they are still an exceptionally talented and entertaining band.

SETLIST:Table for Glasses // Lucky Denver Mint // Your New Aesthetic // Believe in What You Want // A Sunday // Crush // 12.23.95 // Ten // Just Watch the Fireworks // For Me This is Heaven // Blister // Clarity // Goodbye Sky Harbor // ENCORE: What I Would Say to You Now // No Sensitivity // 23 // Work // Pain // Middle // Sweetness