Reunited SAIGON KICK Performs Acoustic Set For Tampa Bay's 98 ROCK; Video Footage, Photos

The first public performance of the reunited acclaimed 1990s rock band SAIGON KICK was a special acoustic set this past Friday (March 22) for Tampa Bay, Florida radio station 98 Rock at the RP Funding Performance Theater. The four-song set was "the [original band's] first performance in 20 years," according to singer Matt Kramer, and was streamed live at 98rock.com.

Check out video footage of the performance below. Photos can be found at 98rock.com.

As previously reported, SAIGON KICK has parted ways with bassist Tom DeFile. According to Tom, the split happened because of "personalities and other reasons." The remaining members of the band said in a statement: "Tom and SAIGON KICK amicably decided this is best for both parties and we wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors."

Chris McLernon, who was not a part of the original SAIGON KICK lineup, but came aboard as the band's bassist for the "Water" album in 1993 and remained with the group until they unofficially called it quits in 1999, is playing bass on SAIGON KICK's current reunion tour.

Guitarist Jason Bieler, who last year launched a new project called OWL STRETCHING, stated in a 2012 interview about the prospect of a SAIGON KICK reunion, "My only thing about SAIGON KICK is that I wouldn't want it to be a 'will-work-for-food' tour. I hate that, and I expressed to the guys that whatever and if ever we do something, I want to do it at a level that's higher and better than it was. You tend to remember the best things about a band when they're younger, and when you see them when you're older you think 'Oh, man, they suck! Maybe they're still the same band and just never got any better.' I'd want to go out there and capture something, do something great. If we're going to do some shows, I don't want to show up with one flashlight and rip off the fans to make an extra $200. That's not what I'm interested in."

SAIGON KICK is perhaps best remembered for its second album, 1992's "The Lizard", which spawned the band's biggest hit single, "Love Is On The Way". The track reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and its accompanying video was in the top 10 MTV countdown for many weeks. Just before touring for the LP commenced, DeFile was fired and was replaced by ex-COLD SWEAT bassist Chris McLernon. They toured from summer 1992 to spring 1993 and "The Lizard" was eventually certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for sales in excess of 500,000 copies.