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Live Recap: Glass Animals Brings Intimate Club Tour to Lincoln Hall

At most sold out concerts, the crowd usually contains a mix of die-hard fans who know the full discography front to back, casual fans who mostly know the hits, and of course, the people who have been dragged along by their friends. However, as the audience filed into Lincoln Hall and packed the intimate concert hall, truly everyone seemed grateful to be among the lucky few ticket holders for a special evening with Glass Animals (which had sold out in seconds).

When the lights dimmed and the band made their way onstage, and lead vocalist Dave Bayley sang the first line of “Tokyo Drifting,” every single person around me started dancing and screaming the words back to the stage, confirming the fact that only true fans managed to get their hands on these limited tickets.

With their melodic mix of indie electronic, alternative and psychedelic genres, Glass Animals has honed in on a unique sound that’s seen them continue to grow and evolve. Despite the fact that throughout their ten plus years as a band, they’ve made their way up to sell out rooms like Aragon Ballroom in Chicago and toured with massive lighting rigs and production props, Glass Animals was able to strip away their shiny production and deliver a show that was just as captivating. While the stage may have been scaled down, Bayley’s stage presence and energy was anything but— he spun around in circles, danced with his bandmates, and never shied away from getting close to the crowd. In fact, after performing a handful of songs, Bayley decided to forego his place onstage to stand on the main bar in the venue while he performed the band’s single “Gooey” from their 2014 debut album. During that performance, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t have their eyes glued to the lead singer.

Following the outlandish performance of “Gooey,” Bayley traveled through the crowd to get back onstage and perform other favorites like “Youth” and “Pork Soda,” with a few new tunes sprinkled in the mix. One of the new songs, “Your Love (Déjà Vu),” was released as a single on February 19th. When all was said and done, this intimate show from Glass Animals gave fans a special opportunity to revisit some familiar songs that mean so much to them, while also allowing them to catch a glimpse of what the band has in store for their new music.

See where you can catch Glass animals next here (during the encore, Bayley promised they’d return to Chicago soon), and be sure to follow them on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram for all the latest updates.

Live Recap: Temples Closes Out January With Sold Out Lincoln Hall Show

True diva energy defies gender and genre. Art d'Ecco took the stage with all the glitter and glam and kick ass attitude of a rocker diva and then some. From the moment d’Ecco started playing "Never Tell," his music pulled at every part of me, demanding nodding heads, swiveling hips, and pumping fists. The band moved, expressing emphatic notes with their whole bodies. Disco. Post punk. Classic rock. Pop. Glam. They all had their moments and the band never waned in their enthusiasm. "Nobody's Home" kicked the energy up a notch and made the bliss center of my brain sizzle. It may have been their first trip to Chicago, but I certainly hope it won't be their last.

British mops of hair swirled around them as Temples shred and drove through their music. They brought a polished pop sensibility to ethereal psych rock. "You're Either On Something," elicited happy hoots and waving arms. Followed by a smooth cerebral psych jam, "Holy Horses." It was eminently clear, this is the kind of music that takes you for a ride, and if you happen to be high, it would glisten. Thanks to legalization, I'm pretty sure there were more than a few enjoying the way the combo of THC and music makes your body vibrate. James Bagshaw said, "These people look like they've been waiting all week to dance," and gave them what they wanted with "Hot Motion." The sold out crowd was so happy and thick they were spilling out through the doors. They were a beautiful happy mass of music lovers, and soaked up every last second of ecstasy.

Check out photos of the evening and listen to Hot Motion in full below.



PHOTOS: Deeper and Corridor with The Hecks at TNK Fest

We finished off TNK Fest 2020 with a co-headline show from Deeper and Corridor, along with The Hecks. Check out photos of the perfect post-punk bill below if you missed out, and be sure to follow Deeper and Corridor for their latest tour updates!

Keep up with Deeper on Twitter // Facebook // Instagram

Keep up with Corridor on Twitter // Facebook // Instagram

PHOTOS: Goth Babe with Slow Pulp and Jude Shuma at TNK Fest

This past Thursday night, I kicked off my 4-day streak at Tomorrow Never Knows festival with the sold out show from Goth Babe, Slow Pulp and Jude Shuma. Check out photos from the show below and stay tuned for more TNK coverage coming soon.

PHOTOS: Sons of the Silent Age 2020 Fundraiser at Metro

PHOTOS: Winspear Review 2020

This past Friday, we kicked off our weekend in style at the 2020 Winspear Review, featuring performances from Divino Niño, Barrie, Major Murphy and Amy O. If you missed out on the sold out party at Lincoln Hall, check out photos of the evening below!

For all their latest updates, make sure to keep up with Winspear on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

Tomorrow Never Knows Festival 2020 Spotlight

Tomorrow Never Knows Festival continues to be one of the only reasons I don’t hibernate for the entirety of January. Along with the extreme cold that often hits Chicago during the first month of the year, TNK Fest brings some of the best artists and best shows of the year to various venues around the city. For the first edition of TNK during the new decade, there’s no shortage of great gigs to attend at the likes of Lincoln Hall, Schubas, The Hideout and Metro, but here are the top five must-see shows on ANCHR’s list for 2020.


Who: Caroline Polachek, Born Days, Desert Liminal

What: TNK kicks off at Lincoln Hall with a show that will be sure to have the crowd dancing. Headlining the evening of electro-pop is Caroline Polachek (formerly of Chairlift), known for her knack of crafting unforgettable hooks. On her 2019 album Pang, Polachek weaves her catchy melodies around diverse electronic soundscapes that stand out as individual chapters, but still manager to flow together. If Polachek’s live shows are even half as energetic as her performances with Chairlift, be prepared to be captivated by her stage presence. Also, true to the TNK fashion of showcasing local talent in Chicago, local artists Born Days and Desert Liminal will be opening up the evening.

When: Wednesday, January 15th

Where: Lincoln Hall

Tickets to this show are sold out, but you can get TNK Five Day passes here.


Who: Goth Babe, Slow Pulp and Jude Shuma

What: All three bands on this line up create whimsical tunes that’ll fuel day dreams or make the perfect sunny day soundtrack. The evening’s headliner Griff Washburn, AKA Goth Babe, lives a nomadic lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest, so it’s only fitting his songs feel like snap shots of different adventures. Chicago’s own Slow Pulp and Jude Shuma perfectly complement Goth Babe’s sound with their dreamy, psychedelic tinged songs that’ll have you grooving along.

When: Thursday, January 16th

Where: Lincoln Hall

Get tickets here.


Who: Stella Donnelly, V.V. Lightbody, and The Ophelias

What: Stella Donnelly put on one of my favorite shows in 2019 at Lincoln Hall’s sister venue, Schubas. As a songwriter, Donnelly fearlessly writes lyrics that’ll hit you right in the gut, but they’re wrapped around melodies that are damn catchy. Her stage presence is just as infectious thanks to Donnelly’s positive energy and witty banter that’ll have you laughing between songs. Alongside Cincinnati rock band The Ophelias, Chicago’s V.V. Lightbody will warm up the show with her silky vocals and captivating performance.

When: Friday, January 17th

Where: Lincoln Hall

Get tickets here.


Who: Hand Habits, Fran, Garcia Peoples, Fauvely

What: Hand Habits, the brainchild of musician and songwriter Meg Duffy, also made for one of my favorite 2019 shows, and I can’t wait to kick off 2020 with them again. On 2019’s placeholder, Duffy spills out vulnerable tales that encompass listeners with doubled vocals and warm guitar tones. Like most of the shows in our top picks, there’s no shortage of Chicago talent that complements the evening’s headliner perfectly, and Fran and Fauvely do just that on this line up. New Jersey’s Garcia Peoples round out the evening with their trippy style that pulls influence from classic psychedelic rock bands.

When: Saturday, January 18th

Where: Schubas Tavern

Get tickets here.


Who: Deeper, Corridor, and The Hecks

What: TNK Fest wraps up at Lincoln Hall with a stacked bill that highlights three bands that put a refreshing twist on post-punk and new wave influences. Deeper’s 2018 self-titled debut was one of my favorite local releases in recent years, and if their latest singles “Bennington” and “Run” act as any indication of what their sound will continue to develop into, it’s safe to say their next record will also come in at the top. Montreal’s Corridor packs punchy guitars and nostalgia-evoking tones that pair perfectly with both Chicago bands on the bill. Lastly, The Hecks will be sure to get the energy ramped up and get the crowd moving with their synth-soaked melodies.

When: Sunday, January 19th

Where: Lincoln Hall

Get tickets here.


PHOTOS: White Reaper's Saturday Night Sold Out Show with Dehd and Wombo

Twas the Saturday before Christmas, and White Reaper had sold out the Metro for their first show in Chicago since the release of their second album You Deserve Love. The Louisville band had support from Wombo and Chicago’s own Dehd to warm up the crowd. For the entire evening, the positive energy could be felt throughout the crowd and it all culminated when White Reaper took the stage and the audience got even rowdier. If you missed out on the fun, check out photos from all three bands below!

Keep up with White Reaper on Twitter and Instagram

PHOTOS: Whitney's Record-Breaking Run at Thalia Hall

Last week, Chicago sweethearts Whitney returned home from tour to celebrate their second album Forever Turned Around with a five-night extravaganza at Thalia Hall. Their sold out residency that spanned December 4th-December 8th featured a variety of special guests— from support acts like Hoops and Slow Pulp to surprise appearances from Kevin Morby and Aaron Scott, there was no shortage of unforgettable moments. If you missed out on tickets to the special Thalia Hall run, check out our collective photo gallery from the show below. You can also grab tickets to see Whitney at SPACE next month on January 28th here.

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.