Filtering by Tag: Twin Peaks
The Top 10 Takeaways from Twin Peaks' Thalia Hall Takeover
On Thursday, May 14th, Chicago’s own Twin Peaks made their triumphant return to the Thalia Hall stage to begin their resurrection residency—which at the time was slated to be an 8-night straight run, but ended up extending to 9 nights. Prior to the return, the last time that the full band had performed all together onstage in Chicago was on November 30th, 2019 at the Empty Bottle. The pandemic put live music on hold for some time, but even with it back up and running, Twin Peaks remained unheard from. While the five members of the band (Cadien Lake James, Clay Frankel, Jack Dolan, Colin Croom, and Connor Brodner) have all explored other creative and musical endeavors during this time, there was still a void left in the Chicago music scene without having them back as a unit.
I was lucky enough to attend 6 of the 9 comeback shows, and after I got home on the first night, I made an Instagram post of some clips from the concert and referenced an Andy Bernard quote from The Office, “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." Again, this isn’t to say the Chicago music scene hasn’t still thrived while Twin Peaks was on hiatus, but the 9-day residency, which I’ve deemed “Peaks Week Plus,” felt like a return to the good old days.
Whether you were one of the fans who attended every single night, one of the shows, or watched the live stream from afar, we can all agree that this stretch of sold-out shows was magical and a much deserved welcome back to the band. Reflecting back on the experience, I put together my top 10 takeaways and highlights from the week.
#1: Getting The Band Back Together is the Move
Obviously this week-plus span of shows highlighted that Twin Peaks is beloved by Chicagoans and fans globally, so it was great to have Cadien, Clay, Colin, Connor, and Jack back as a full crew, but this residency included a few other special reunions to mark the monumental occasion. On the first night of the run, another cherished Chicago act NE-HI reunited to open up the show. Fronted by Jason Balla (also of Dehd and Accessory), NE-HI released their farewell EP called X Y Z nearly 7 years ago to the day, on May 8th, 2019. I wish that I could have bottled up the feeling of the excitement and buzz in the room when they opened up the show at Thalia Hall with their song “Since I’ve Been Thinking.” The song begins with the lyrics “It’s been awhile,” and while it has been about 9 years since NE-HI opened for Twin Peaks during their NYE run at Thalia Hall back in 2017, it felt like we had all time traveled back to that moment. It felt like being back at home after a long time away.
Speaking of homecomings, we also got the first full-band performance from Pool Holograph in four years on Saturday, May 16th. Pool Holograph was founded in Chicago, but since frontman Wyatt Grant relocated to Asheville, NC in 2020, the project has mostly continued with solo performances from Grant. While it’s unclear if the NE-HI reunion was a one-night only occasion, Pool Holograph has confirmed there’s a lot more from them in the works. They released their new single “Melody Cage” last week from the upcoming record called Evergreen Arcade, and hopefully we can expect some more full-band shows in the pipeline.
Last but not least, we also witnessed a reunion of the OG Post Animal lineup on Thursday, May 21st— more on that later.
Twin Peaks performing on Saturday, May 16.
#2: Wyatt Grant and Drew Ryan Prove that Analog Art Does it Best
In addition to opening up the show on Saturday with his band Pool Holograph, Wyatt Grant also partnered up with fellow artist Drew Ryan to produce live art projections during the entire string of performances. Stationed at the back of the venue’s main floor, the duo projected in-the-moment art backdrops each night that correlated to every song on the setlist. For example, during the song “Butterfly,” they showcased different images of butterflies on the stage backdrop, and they switched up the images depending on the night. During other songs, they used a variation of other creative techniques— Ryan would put up real-time rubber stamps of various images and phrase, and Grant would swirl around colorful glitter in a bowl of water to make for an iridescent display. On the last night, which was dubbed “The Angel’s Share,” the pair projected angel cut-outs that included the letters of “Twin Peaks.”
As someone who has been feeling very AI-fatigued lately, it was so refreshing to see visual artists crafting these brilliant and unique displays on the spot each night, and continuing to change it up as the setlist varied. Moments like these are a reminder of why we need to keep the human element of creativity.
Drew Ryan and Wyatt Grant in their projection “booth” during the song “Making Breakfast.”
#3: Just Because You’re in Your 30s Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Rock
The members of Twin Peaks started playing together as teenagers, but now that they’re in their 30s, they still rock just as hard. Not only were they able to maintain their lively stage presence as they played 9 consecutive sold-out shows without a single night off in between, but their energy seemed to ramp up as the residency continued. They played a double set on the finale night that included a whopping 40-songs! Through it all, Cadien Lake James kept up with his signature head banging for nearly the full 90-minute sets. He could teach a masterclass in neck strength and stretching because whatever he does to keep up that fluidity and mobility needs to be studied! Here’s to Twin Peaks following in Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ footsteps and continuing to rock until they’re 80.
On a personal note, I also spent the most time in the pit than I have in years at these shows. As a concert photographer, I so often go to shows with my camera as my security blanket— I shoot the first three songs from the photo pit, then go hang out in the back of the balcony away from the thick of the crowd. By going to some of these shows without my camera, I got to experience being back to my roots in the midst of it all as an admirer of live music. I even crowd surfed every night that I attended with the exception of Saturday, which is something I hadn’t done in about 5 years. There’s just something about the Twin Peaks pit that pulls you in like a magnetic force. If crowdsurfing were an art form, then consider Twin Peaks my Yoko Ono.
Twin Peaks performing on Friday, May 22nd- featuring one of the many crowd surfers
#4: We Will Not Make It, Not Without You
Speaking of being in the pit, the sense of mosh pit hospitality at these shows was some of the best I’ve ever seen. Fans worked together to keep one another safe and comfortable during the show, lifting each other up to surf and doing their best to make sure no one fell down. If they did, they picked each other up. I also have to give a huge shout out to the security at Thalia Hall, especially those who worked behind the barricade, catching audience members as they crowd surfed to the front.
Aside from the sense of safety during the shows, there was also a sense of natural camaraderie that permeated throughout the venue each night. I saw a lot of my current friends at these shows, reunited with familiar faces I haven’t seen in years, and met new folks by chatting with them about their fellow admiration of Twin Peaks. Several of the new people I met had traveled in from out of town to witness the occasion, but it felt like we were all at home together once the band hit the stage.
The pit in action on Friday, May 22nd.
#5: That Stars Hallow Small-Town Feel in Chicago
The camaraderie between fans wasn’t the only bond present during these shows. Even though Chicago is a massive city, and a lot of people attended these shows, there was an air of small town familiarity. Think fictional towns like Stars Hollow and Tree Hill—or dare I say, even Twin Peaks— where all the characters are interwoven together one way or another.
The five core members of Twin Peaks exuded chemistry onstage that comes from their decades of friendship outside of making music together, but they also had an array of talented friends joining them each night. Every night, the band was joined by Justin Vittori on backup percussion, as well as Sima Cunningham, V.V. Lightbody, and Sofia Jensen on background vocals (and flute from V.V. Lightbody).
Similarly to how we saw Wyatt Grant of Pool Holograph pulling double duty of visual artist and opening band on Saturday night, we got to see V.V. Lightbody open the show on Tuesday, May 19th and Sofia Jensen play with her project Free Range on Monday, May 18th. We also saw Finn Wolfhard join the band for backing vocals on “Butterfly” and “What Up Dawg” on the finale night, and he opened up the show on Wednesday, May 20th. Wolfhard was also spotted crowdsurfing various nights of the week.
Aside from the outrageously talented friends who double-dipped some nights, Twin Peaks made sure to spotlight other local talent by having a different band support them each night. Additional support included NE-HI, Lifeguard, Neptune’s Core, and Post Animal.
Finn Wolfhard and James Swanberg performing “What Up Dawg” along with Twin Peaks.
#6: “Our Friend Jeff”
While we’re on the subject of local legends, Twin Peaks brought out “our friend Jeff,” as in the legendary Jeff Tweedy, during the encore portion of their show on Tuesday, May 19th.
Tweedy joined the band on guitar and guest vocals to perform a cover of the Faces song “Glad and Sorry” as well as a version of his own band Wilco’s song “Spiders (Kidsmoke).”
Going back to the small-town feel of the Chicago music community, it was very special to witness the cross-generational Chicago greatness during this live collaboration. The Monday and Tuesday night shows were also live streamed, so fans across the globe were able to join in on this moment if they had a live-stream ticket.
Jeff Tweedy joining Twin Peaks for “Glad and Sorry.”
#7: The Most Epic Live Version of “Dirtpicker”
My favorite thing about live music is that no two performances are ever exactly the same. Even if a performer miraculously manages to hit all the same notes in exactly the same way every time, the audience members can shift the vibes and the tone of a performance just as much.
Well on Thursday, May 21st, Post Animal delivered the most epic live version of their song “Dirtpicker” and the audience reaction only amplified the experience. As I alluded to earlier, the original six members of Post Animal reunited for their opening set, with Joe Keery joining his bandmates Dalton Allison, Matt Williams, Jake Hirshland, Wes Toledo, and Javi Reyes onstage to perform “Last Goodbye” and the aforementioned “Dirtpicker.” For the epic conclusion of their set that night, Post Animal was also joined by Cadien Lake James and Finn Wolfhard for some backup shredding on guitar, as well as Justin Vittori on percussion. The crowd went wild for the supergroup, and Jake Hirshland stage dove into the crowd during the song.
Post Animal joined by Cadien Lake James, Finn Wolfhard and Justin Vittori.
#8: Setlist Shuffles, including Sunken Sunday
Along with guest appearances that made for one-off live versions of fan-favorite tunes, Twin Peaks also made sure to spice up the show each night by shuffling around their setlists. They had a core group on songs that made the cut nearly every time, if not every show, like “Butterfly,” “Shake Your Lonely” and “Walk To The One You Love,” but they always made sure to shuffle the order around to keep the audience members on their toes.
They also sprinkled in some rarities and deeper cuts on occasion. These shows were a comeback from hiatus as well as a celebration of the 10-year anniversary of their album Down in Heaven, but that didn’t stop them from showcasing work from the entirety of their discography, including the 2013 album Sunken. On Sunday, May 17th—better known as “Sunken Sunday,” the band closed out their set by performing the 8-song album in full, featuring fan favorites like “Baby Blue” and “Boomers.”
#9: The Angel’s Share
On Wednesday, May 20th, Twin Peaks announced they’d be extending their Thalia Hall takeover for one final night on Friday, May 22nd. They deemed the night “The Angel’s share” and announced that they’d be playing two full sets without a support act. In the Instagram post that made the announcement, the band wrote “Inspired by our friend Ben @kramerkramer , the concept of an Angel’s share, is that he who helps with the task should enjoy a reward. ‘In practice with the dudes: if you came to the grocery store with me to grab provisions, not only did you help set the menu, but you got an Angel’s share - a candy bar, a bag of chips - something that was yours, not the group’s. A small, important motivation.’ This is our Angel’s Share for you, Chicago. We love you.”
On the Thursday night prior, which was originally slated to be the last performance, Cadien gave what he called a “wedding speech” to express his and the band’s appreciation for everyone involved throughout the process of planning and performing the shows. He wrapped up the speech before the band played “We Will Not Make It (Not Without You),” which Clay then dedicated to the audience, but the true dedication and display of gratitude from the band came the following night when they performed 40 (!!!) songs.
When you think about it, most bands do an encore of 1-3 songs at a show. Twin Peaks did an entire encore performance of two full sets with their Angel’s share show. Halfway through the residency, they could’ve decided to stick to their original plan to end the run after the eighth night to get a much deserved night of rest, but the demand and the love was so strong that they added on the final show at the last minute. They did this in celebration of the city that champions them and the community that they built.
One of the angelic backdrops on Friday, May 22nd.
#10: Thalia Hall’s New Reigning Champions
Piggybacking off the last takeaway, the 9-night and 10-set stretch of shows without a single break in between show nights is not only a testament to how much Chicago adores Twin Peaks, but the love that the band has boomeranged back to their hometown. Twin Peaks poured their heart and souls into planning and playing these shows, and you could feel their devotion and the care they put into the production in every aspect. The sheer stamina to fully rock and leave it all on the stage night after night was something truly magical to witness and this event is something that will live on forever in the history of the Chicago music scene.
Twin Peaks broke the record for most consecutive nights played at Thalia Hall (and even got Championship rings from the venue), and here’s hoping they might be up to topping themselves with more shows in the future.
For now, you can continue to bask in the glow of Peaks Week Plus with my photo galleries of Night 3 and 9 and tune into the 10th anniversary version of Down In Heaven.
You can also pick up limited editions of Sunken, Down In Heaven, and Freezing In Chicago —which is a live album recorded during the 2017 Thalia Hall run— from Shuga Records.
PHOTOS: Twin Peaks Play Their Biggest Headline Show Yet at The Riviera
On Friday night, hometown heroes Twin Peaks played their biggest headline show yet, selling out the historic Riviera Theatre in honor of their new album Lookout Low. Ohmme and The Nude Party opened up the post-Thanksgiving show. If you missed out on the Chicago celebration, check out our photo recap below, and see where you can catch Twin Peaks next here.
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PHOTOS: Grapetooth at Lincoln Hall 7.21.18
This past Saturday night, the dynamic duo of Chris Bailoni and Clay Frankel (better known as Grapetooth) headlined a sold out show at Lincoln Hall. The unofficial Pitchfork aftershow came on the heels of the pair's announcement that they'd been signed to Polyvinyl Records, who will release Grapetooth's debut record some time this fall. If you missed out on the rambunctious show--which ended with fans climbing onstage during debut single "Trouble"--check out our photos of the show below.
LIVE: Twin Peaks and Portugal. The Man at Aragon Ballroom 2.16.18
The evening kicked off at 7:30PM sharp, with hometown heroes Twin Peaks hitting the stage as the crowd still filed into the massive Uptown ballroom. Although they’ve dominated the DIY scene in Chicago and worked their way up to selling out Pilsen’s Thalia Hall for three nights in a row, Twin Peaks had actually never played on the Aragon stage prior to this performance. “This place is ridiculous. I feel like we’re playing in a small Italian village,” said singer and guitarist Clay Frankel as he surveyed the painted ceiling boasting a night-time sky theme and the venue’s regal balcony fixtures that resemble a castle. In addition to the witty banter that the five piece dished out between songs, the Chicago natives quickly conquered the huge venue with their buoyant stage presence and cohesive performance. As they played, the band fed off one another’s energy, keeping the crowd engaged as they moved around the stage and threw their bodies into the music. Joining the band, local outfit Ohmme provided backing vocals on some songs, and a horns section also joined in on select tunes, providing another enticing facet to the show.
Their setlist featured Twin Peaks staples like “Holding Roses” and “Boomers” from the earlier parts of their extensive catalog, but they also mixed in some of their newest singles as well. In 2017, the band decided to forgo releasing a full album and instead delivered their fans a series of double singles, which they deemed the Sweet ‘17 Singles. Just this past week, Twin Peaks released a compilation LP of all the singles, and their set featured “Tossing Tears,” “Blue Coupe,” and “In The Meadow” from the series. Each of those singles, like the majority of the Twin Peaks song pool, have a completely different sound, diving into different sonic territory. The band also keeps a unique sound by having four out of five members take turns singing lead on their tracks.
By the time Twin Peaks’ set came to an end, any pocket of space that had been there at the beginning of their set was now filled with fans eager for Portugal. The Man. The momentum had kept building throughout Twin Peaks’ show, and the room buzzed as the stage was set for the evening’s headliners. Further escalating the anticipation, Portugal. The Man made an earth shaking entrance, literally. At 8:45, the lights had dimmed and a bass-heavy, floor-shaking song filled the house speakers to tease the set’s start, which was followed up and juxtaposed by the crooning tune “Unchained Melody.” Finally, after the two-song tease, the band took the stage, backed by a massive screen with the words “APPLAUSE” projected onto it. The crowd obliged and lost their minds in excitement, buckling up for the next 90 minutes.
Following the instructions to applause, the on-stage screen then read another message; “We are not very good at stage banter, so tonight’s performance will feature slogans written by our management. Thank you for your continued understanding.” True to their word, the set that followed featured very little talking or banter between songs, but it never lacked in energy or failed to engage the crowd. Once the message on the screen faded, trippy visuals and colorful lights took their place, visually stimulating the crowd and adding another dynamic layer to the show’s production. While the lighting and images definitely enhanced the show, Portugal. The Man could have easily kept the crowd just as entertained with their stellar musicianship and magnificent execution of their records.
The setlist contained a fair amount of Portugal. The Man’s 2017 record Woodstock sprinkled in throughout some of their other most popular tracks. Easily Woodstock’s most successful track “Feel It Still,” which has been played on Top 40 radio across the country, received a warm welcome from the crowd. The band teased the song with a reworked live arrangement, extending the song’s introduction to build up suspense. The intricate arrangements and unique live versions remained a common theme of the night; with most songs blending into one another with flawlessly smooth transitions. Portugal. The Man also kept their audience on their toes by dipping into different sonic flavors; some songs, like “Sea of Air” maintained a light, sing-songy mood, while other songs would have the band cranking up the volume and going off on full jam sessions. There was never a dull moment during their show because the band managed to carefully craft a set that highlighted their best songs, like the crowd favorites of “Modern Jesus” and “Purple Yellow Red and Blue.” The night ended with a rumble of cheers and appreciative applause after the band played “Holy Roller [Hallelujah].”
With the fully immersive production and the way that the band brings their music to life on the stage, this tour is one that can’t be missed. Check out the rest of Portugal. The Man’s upcoming tour dates
Gallery of Twin Peaks and Portugal. The Man
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LIVE: HINDS Closed Out TNK Fest 2018 at Lincoln Hall
Madrid quartet HINDS was number one on our most anticipated acts of TNK Fest 2018, and they definitely did not disappoint during their show this past Sunday! They closed out the annual winter, multi-day and multi-venue festival at Lincoln Hall, following rowdy performances from openers Peel and Sløtface.
Bursting onto the stage to the sounds of “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate on the house speakers, the four piece immediately let the audience know that they were in for a light hearted and energetic performance filled with good vibes. The last time HINDS had played one of their endearing and energetic shows in Chicago was back in May of last year, where they packed The Empty Bottle for a free Red Bull sponsored show. The Lincoln Hall audience welcomed HINDS back to town with open arms; eagerly soaking up their irresistible and lively lo-fi rock tunes.
The band kicked off the evening with one of their most popular tracks, “Garden,” from the 2016 album Leave Me Alone, and the set that followed kept the audience engaged and enthralled from start to finish. Between playing even more crowd favorites from the same album, like “Castigadas En El Granero” and “Chili Town,” Carlotta Cosials talked about how Chicago almost felt like a second home to them, even though they came a long way from Madrid to play a small run of North American tour dates. In addition to the handful of shows HINDS have played in town, they also played an entire tour with Chicago’s Twin Peaks, and of course, Twin Peaks showed up to support their former tour mates and now friends for their show at Lincoln Hall.
The band also talked about some exciting news they had just shared earlier in the week; a new album and another expansive tour in the Spring. Accompanying the news of the album, I Don’t Run, HINDS released lead single “New For You,” which they played amongst their other setlist staples. After delivering nearly an hour of their catchy tunes at a non-stop pace, HINDS left the stage briefly, only to return for an encore that kicked off with a surprise. Twin Peaks members Clay Frankel and Colin Croom took the stage to give HINDS a hand with a cover of “Sweet Thing” from Twin Peaks’ Wild Onion LP, giving HINDS’ show in Chicago a special hometown touch.
If you missed out on this performance at Lincoln Hall, don’t sweat too much...HINDS will be back at the same venue during their upcoming tour! Grab tickets to their May 15th show here, and check out the rest of their tour dates right here.
Photo gallery of Sløtface, Peel, and HINDS by Catalina Florea
While you wait for HINDS to come play in a city near you, listen to "New For You" below, and pre-order I Don't Run here.
Twin Peaks Ring in 2018 With a Three Night Run at Thalia Hall
This past weekend, Chicago's DIY rock heroes Twin Peaks proved that you can go big and go home, with an incredible three night, sold out run at Pilsen’s Thalia Hall. Taking over the historic building from Friday night through New Year's Eve, Twin Peaks not only cultivated a diverse support bill of local up and coming acts, but all three nights included an intricate stage set up and special appearances that celebrated the current Chicago music scene. One of the band's latest songs from their Sweet '17 Singles series "We Will Not Make It (Not Without You)" acted as the theme of the weekend, paying homage to the friendly and familiar dynamic of the Chicago scene; a dynamic where artists lift up fellow artists in the buzzing collective of talent that the city has to offer.
The first night of the weekend's all local lineup began with Sun Cop music, followed by Knox Fortune as the main support. The brainchild of musician and producer Andrew Humphrey, Sun Cop's set immediately displayed the attitude of friendship and supportive nature that threaded throughout the weekend, with Twin Peak's Colin Croom joining Sun Cop's live band lineup for the night. Croom's appearance on stage proved to be another common theme, when he also joined Knox Fortune for his biggest show in the city yet. Although Knox Fortune has attracted attention over the past couple of years working with the likes of Chance The Rapper, singing the hook on the hit "All Night," he only played his first official show in November this year; a sold out headlining set at Lincoln Hall. Knox Fortune's set highlighted this city's ability to show support and collaborate across genres, and it also featured a special appearance from his frequent collaborator Joey Purp.
Twin Peak's set on night one set the bar high for the entire weekend, but each night only got better, with them continuously delivering the high energy and rambunctious sets that their fans have come to know and love, with all sorts of surprises. Twin Peaks is already unique enough with their lineup in that they all pitch in to write the songs, and four out of the five members alternate singing lead and are multi-instrumentalists, but these shows featured an even bigger and more layered sound than what the core members can create on their own. Joined by a horns section and local duo OHMME singing backup, Twin Peaks filled the Pilsen concert hall beautifully. The production of the night also added in another facet to these special shows, with props including pine trees and an actual motorcycle suspended from the ceiling. Of course, the night also ended with a shower of confetti raining down on the audience from the balcony.
Night two only amplified the magic of the previous night, with a whole new set of support acts and another fun spirited crowd ready to reciprocate the energy that all three bands exuded from the stage. Warming their fellow Chicagoans up on the frigid Saturday evening, trio DEHD captivated the large room with their retro garage rock tunes. The group includes NE-HI's Jason Balla and Lala Lala's Emily Kempf taking turns on vocals, and drummer Eric McGrady forgoing a full drum set to create a unique setup with floor toms. Next up, psych rockers Post Animal cranked up the volume, performing some of their most popular songs like "You Were Not There," "When I Get Home," and "Special Moment" with refreshed and fleshed out arrangements that showcased their skills as guitarists. Post Animal supported Twin Peaks for one of their Thalia Hall shows last December, and have since had one hell of a year, touring with Twin Peaks, WAVVES, White Reaper, and recently announcing their signing to Polyvinyl records. The local scene and now the national rock scene have come to love the group for their massive stage presence and ability to shred on the six string, and their set on Saturday only got even more bold when part-time band member Joe Keery made a rare appearance for the last song in the set. With Post Animal, it seems you can never have too many guitar players.
Twin Peaks' second set of the three-night stint once again featured the same expanded lineup, as well as the confetti and custom stage setup, but the band did a great job at diversifying their setlist each night. Every night, the set heavily featured a lot of the group's latest material that has come around the past several months as part of their Sweet '17 Singles series, but they rearranged the order each night to keep the crowd guessing. One of this year's singles "Shake Your Lonely" features vocalist and friend of the band's Marisa Nakamura on the studio version, so of course they brought her out every night to sing it with them. Each night also had the Twin Peaks staples like "Making Breakfast," "Butterfly," and "Walk To The One You Love," but the band mixed in some rarities to all three sets. On Saturday, they also ended with another staple "Boomers," although they played it second on the first night and in the middle of the set the third night.
Just like that, the final night of Twin Peaks Thalia takeover fell upon the city, and another sold out crowd quickly filled up the concert hall on Sunday night. Thanks to the Twitter humor of the NYE performers NE-HI, every concert-goer that evening had the opportunity to chow down on a complimentary Chicago dog, courtesy of Goose Island. With full bellies, the crowd watched Today's Hits kick off the show at 9PM; their set once again highlighting the friendly nature of the local music scene, as both Cadien Lake James and Colin Croom dropped in during Today's Hits short set. Today's Hits lead singer James Swanberg returned the favor later in the night, making an appearance during Twin Peaks' set.
Hot dog heroes NE-HI took the stage next, lead singer Jason Balla taking the stage for the second time that weekend. Like most of the artists who were a part of this NYE weekend extravaganza, NE-HI have also had an incredible year, touring nationally, releasing their sophomore album, and performing at Pitchfork Music Festival. The four piece put on an unforgettable show every time, with Balla thrashing and jumping around as he sings, while other members James Weir and Mikey Wells follow suit and gain some serious air while leaping around. Their set featured a mix of songs from their self-titled debut, 2017's Sophomore record (Offers), and some new material.
Twin Peaks' final set of 2017 began just an hour before midnight and once again had some rarities and a rearranged order in their setlist. The crowd surfing commenced during the first song and lasted throughout the night as it had the previous two nights, but everyone seemed to be giving even more of their energy back to the band since it was their last show of the year. The show paused right before midnight with a collective countdown between the band and the crowd, followed by confetti and some giant balloons entering the pit. The show continued on into 2018, wrapping up with the weekend's theme song "We Will Not Make It (Not Without You)," which bassist and vocalist Jack Dolan dedicated to everyone in the room. Even more confetti showered the room as the song wrapped up, providing the weekend's final surprise.
Twin Peaks' weekend at Thalia Hall celebrated more than just the new year and a fresh start; it celebrated the creative community of Chicago and promoted kindness and friendship among artists and fans alike. These shows had a revitalizing energy and an unwavering spirit that you can only feel while watching live music played by a group of friends, with all your friends. 2018 holds even more promise for more nights like this in Chicago as so much of the city's music scene continues to grow.
Relive some of the magic of the weekend by checking out our galleries of all seven bands from across the weekend.
December 29th Gallery featuring Sun Cop, Knox Fortune, and Twin Peaks, shot by Christian Heinzel
December 30th gallery featuring DEHD, Post Animal, and Twin Peaks, shot by Rachel Zyzda
New Year's Eve featuring Today's Hits, NE-HI, and Twin Peaks, shot by Rachel Zyzda
Twin Peaks will undoubtedly be back on the road a ton in 2018, as well as producing the hits as usual. While you await more new music, re-listen to all of their 2017 singles below, and check out the band's upcoming tour dates here.
Audiotree Music Festival 2017 Recap and Gallery: King Gizzard, Twin Peaks, Lizzo, and more!
Chicago-based music tastemakers Audiotree may be best known for some of their studio sessions with your favorite bands, but this past Friday and Saturday, they took over downtown Kalamazoo to bring some of those musicians to one stage for their annual festival. Although Audiotree, a big part of the crowd, and a few of the acts on the lineup all hailed from Chicago, the festival did a great job of curating local fare by bringing in Michigan based food trucks and beer from local breweries. The curators also succeeded in booking a diverse lineup that featured everything from psych rock to rap music. While there was never a dull moment over the course of those two days, here are the moments that stole the show.
Noname Drew in the Friday Evening Crowd
Chicago's on the rise spoken word artist/vocalist/rapper Noname has already had an unstoppable year, playing major festivals like Osheaga and Lollapalooza. Her sunset performance at Audiotree Music Festival on Friday evening completely hooked the small, but mighty festival crowd with her compelling cadence. Her 45 minute set included some of her most popular tracks like "Diddy Bop" and "Reality Check," as well as some shoutouts to fellow Chicagoans like Saba and Kanye West. One of the most memorable moments in her set happened only a few songs in when she told the crowd they could move up, and there was a notable shift of everyone rushing forward to soak in the magnetic performance. Noname will be performing Concord Music Hall in November as part of Red Bull's 30 Days in Chicago, so make sure you catch her there if you missed her summer festival performances!
Noname performing during her sunset slot at ATMF
Lizzo Activated and Instilled Confidence in the Crowd
Hip Hop singer Lizzo brought a vivacious and energetic performance to the Audiotree Festival stage, but her nonstop show also featured a powerful message. While she encouraged the crowd to dance and sing along to her songs like "Phone" and "Water Me," she also encouraged everyone to take a stand in the world. Mentioning some of the current problems of the world, Lizzo said the only way to get through the horrible happenings is to come together and activate. She also instilled the confidence in her audience that they can all do whatever they put their mind to, no matter what anybody says. She put on an inspiring show just a couple weeks back at Loufest, but every time she hits a stage, Lizzo spreads positivity and love. You can also catch her in Chicago this November with Red Bull Sound Select's 30 Day festival.
Lizzo and her ladies getting Friday night at ATMF going
Campdogzz Warmed Up the Crowd During the Day's Peak Heatwave
Chicago's own Campdogzz warmed up the stage on the second day of Audiotree Music Festival. Although the seasons technically shifted into Fall a few days ago, the temperature during Campdogzz's set was reminiscent of the dog days of Summer, reaching mid 90s...with humidity. Although the temperature during their 30 minute set was nearly unbearable, lead singer Jessica Price's unique voice and the chemistry displayed between the band members still got the crowd engaged. The group flawlessly performed new songs off of an upcoming album, which all held onto their signature sound, but showcased their development and expansion as musicians since their last album.
Jessica Price of Campdogzz on Saturday afternoon
Liz Cooper's Set Brought on a Wind Tunnel
The Nashville based nomad Liz Cooper and her band (aka The Stampede) kept it cool while they played through their laid back, country-tinged rock tunes. Throughout the set, the band's easygoing nature shone through, especially when Liz made the most of the fan onstage, which gave her a natural windswept look as she sang her songs with her signature earnest and raspy vocals. Throughout the set, you could tell Liz and her bandmates were enjoying themselves, which translated to the crowd getting lost in the moment too.
Liz Cooper and her windswept look on Saturday
Active Bird Community Made Their Michigan Debut
NYC's Active Bird Community has been playing together since they were in middle school, for more than ten years, but when they hit the stage on day two of ATMF, they mentioned that the festival was their first time playing in Michigan. Although they'd never played nearby before, the music hungry crowd eagerly absorbed songs from the band's earlier days and their 2017 album called Stick Around.
Active Bird Community's frontman Tom D'Agustino during their Saturday set
Charly Bliss Played New Songs While Jetlagged
The Brooklyn based four piece fronted by Eva Hendricks also performed in the peak of Saturday's heat wave, but they still got the crowd into their show and moving in the sun. Decked out in a baby pink dress, Hendricks completely rocked the stage with her bandmates, even though they'd just gotten back from a tour around The U.K. Hendricks told the crowd they'd be performing a few new ones, and they went over incredibly well despite the jet lag.
Pinegrove Got Shady
Pinegrove frontman Evan Stephens Hall took the stage during Pinegrove's late afternoon set donning green sunglasses that matched his t-shirt, due to the blazing hot sun still beaming down on the audience and stage. After a few songs, Hall told the crowd that he wished he didn't have to wear the sunglasses because "eyes are the best way to show you mean it" but he asked the crowd to trust him anyways. Despite the sunglasses barrier, Hall and his bandmates still managed to connect with the crowd, who were all ardently echoing the words back to songs like "Old Friends" and "Cadmium." If you're based in Chicago and missed Pinegrove's set, go see them at Thalia Hall this November, where Hall will be performing sans sunglasses.
Evan Stephens Hall and his sunglasses during Pinegrove's set
Twin Peaks Played Some Sweet Singles
The energy of day two at Audiotree Music Festival peaked (pun intended) when Chicago legends Twin Peak hit the stage with a surge of energy that never lulled. Their hour long set included some of their most popular tracks like "Butterfly," "Walk To The One You Love," and "Making Breakfast," but the band also performed some of their "Sweet '17 Singles" like "Tossing Tears" and "Shake You Lonely" for one of the first few times. Twin Peaks always steals the show when they're part of a lineup, but this refresh to their setlist added another layer to their usually incredible show. Twin Peaks will be taking over Chicago's Thalia Hall for three nights at the end of December, so ring in 2018 with one of their rowdy performances.
Clay Frankel of Twin Peaks leaving it all on the stage
King Gizzard Dedicated a Song to Charles Bradley
During the early afternoon on Saturday, news broke that the soulful legend Charles Bradley had passed away. A few songs into King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's 90 minute set that night, the seven piece band dedicated a song to Mr. Bradley, with vocalist/guitarist/flutist Stu Mackenzie saying, "This one's for Chuck." Outside of the heartfelt dedication, their headlining set kept up a pulsating pace that never let up and included several live debuts of tracks from the group's first album of 2017, called Murder of the Universe. Their explosive set acted as the perfect wrap up of Audiotree Music Festival 2017. Some lucky Chicagoans got to witness a similar performance at Lincoln Hall last night, and the super group returns again tonight with Mild High Club.
Stu Mackenzie closing out the night with King Gizzard
Check out the full gallery featuring Noname, Lizzo, SuperDuperKyle, Campdogzz, Liz Cooper and the Stampede, Active Bird Community, Charly Bliss, Pinegrove, BadBadNotGood, Twin Peaks, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard!
From Psych Rock to Rap, Audiotree Music Festival Has It All
Chicago based company Audiotree has become known as a tastemaker over the past few years. Taking artists of all different calibers and genres and giving them a means to showcase their live performances, Audiotree records live sessions in-studio and at local venues, opening up a world of discovery for music fans and a window of opportunities for musicians. In addition to these live sessions, Audiotree also puts on an annual music festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and this year they've got their best lineup yet. Headlined by Australian psych rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and rapper SuperDuperKyle, the two day festival has a little something for everyone. Check out the entire line up below, and grab your tickets here before they're gone. Single day tickets start at a mere $32.50 for GA with VIP options, and you can snag a two day GA pass for $60.
