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LIVE: Alvvays and Jay Som Mesmerize a Sold Out Thalia Hall
Last Friday night, Jay Som and Alvvays gave a sold out crowd at Thalia Hall the perfect ending to their week with performances that had them hooked from start to finish.
Californian Jay Som and her band took the stage first, delivering deeply personal narratives framed in soft, indie melodies. Songs like "The Bus Song" and "Baybee" from Jay Som's sophomore album Everybody Works had the crowd singing along with the singer songwriter. The latter closed out the 30 minute set, and picked up the pace from the song prior, getting the audience ready for Alvvay's show.
By the time the Toronto five piece took the stage, the crowd was bubbling over with excitement for the hour long set that would follow. Alvvays had last been in town to play Lollpalooza in August, including an after show at The Empty Bottle in Ukrainian Village, and since the festival, their sophomore album Antisocialites had been released. The ten track follow up to Alvvays' 2014 debut came in strong during the band's performance at Thalia Hall, with the first handful of songs coming from the record. Songs like "Plimsoll Punks" and "In Undertow" had the crowd moving along to the band's signature blend of dream pop and indie rock. To complement the music, the band performed in front of a screen backdrop, with the lights and images changing during each song. After the group performed "Lollipop (Ode To Jim)," they broke the new album streak by mixing in crowd favorites from their self-titled record, like "The Agency Group" and "Atop a Cake." While the crowd remained engaged with the music the whole set, nothing compared to their reaction to the introductory guitar strumming of the band's viral song "Archie, Marry Me." The building, cinematic pop tune plays out as if it were written for a dramatic moment in a teen movie, and the audience bellowed the explosive chorus along with lead singer Molly Rankin. Throughout the night, Rankin managed to deliver her vocals flawlessly, and the entire band followed suit, remaining tight knit and on top of their game the entire time.
In addition to the skilled execution of their new album, Rankin and the rest of band kept the spirit of the room up but telling funny anecdotes between songs. Rankin told the crowd about the band's interest in sports, mentioned they wanted to keep an eye on the score for the Toronto Raptors game, and sure enough someone shouted out the score towards the end of the set. Rankin also asked the crowd to inform the band of the latest Chicago gossip about halfway through the set, saying "give us something juicy." The night finished strong with a three song encore consisting of tracks from the debut album and a cover of The Motorcycle Boy's "Trying to Be Kind."
Check out our gallery of the show below so you can always remember (pun intended) what a wonderful performance Alvvays put on at this sold out show!
Check out the rest of Alvvays' very sold out tour dates here, and listen to Antisocialites in full below!
LIVE: Red Bull Sound Select Hosts a Packed Hometown Show for Whitney and NE-HI
Red Bull Sound Select’s 30 Days in Chicago celebrated day 2 of their multi-venue, multi-day festival with Chicago’s own Whitney and NE-HI at The Metro. As guests filed into the city’s legendary venue, the room buzzed with anticipation for the hometown show, which was actually Whitney and NE-HI’s first performance at the Wrigleyville concert hall.
Philadelphia’s up and comers Mt Joy warmed up the stage for both Chicago bands, returning a few months after their Lollapalooza debut this past summer. The band eased the audience into the evening with their blend of indie folk and rock tunes, including their popular tracks “Sheep” and “Astrovan.”
After a quick changeover of sets, NE-HI walked onto stage to a whopping welcome of cheers and applause. The local four piece commanded the audience’s attention immediately with their fervent performance of their fuzzy rock songs. Lead singer Jason Balla’s distinct vocals and the band’s signature guitar styling have given them a unique sound, which has caught the attention of music fans across the country. Just this year, the band have toured nearly nonstop, playing SXSW, Daytrotter Downs, and Pitchfork Festival. Live, the band add another layer of vehemence and eagerness to their music, with Balla thrashing around the stage and guitarist Michael Wells jumping up and down throughout their set. Set highlights included their songs “Stay Young,” “Since I’ve Been Thinking,” and the title track of their 2017 album Offers. By the time NE-HI walked off the stage, the crowd was full warmed up and ready for Whitney’s first performance at Metro.
Just before Whitney took the stage, the front few rows were handed roses as an ode to the album cover of Whitney’s debut record Light Upon The Lake, and to add another special touch to the night. Whitney have turned heads with their layered and cinematic tunes; Their folk rock songs often featuring a horns section accompanying Ehrlich’s telltale falsetto vocals, both of which put a signature stamp on their music. The band also stands out with their unique stage setup, as lead singer Julien Ehrlich also drums during their live performances. Whitney’s hour long set at Metro featured some of their most popular tracks, but early on in the night Ehrlich told the audience that their set that night would be a little different than most nights. Their performance also featured a few covers of legendary artists, like Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Although the set started off minimal with Ehrlich performing the first song at the keyboard before moving over to his drum set at center stage, the energy built up as the night went on and the band were joined onstage with a live string section. The addition of the strings added another level of richness and warmth to the show, especially combined with the horns section. Whitney’s stunning and special hometown performance wrapped up past midnight with a three song encore, consisting of “Golden Days,” “Rolling Blackout,” and their most popular track “No Woman.”
The electric energy that filled The Metro at the end of night reflected the captivating quality of the Red Bull Sound Select shows. The shows have brought some of the best bands and musicians around to the city this month, and the lineup at this show particularly appealed to Chicago music fans, most of which felt a burst of pride at seeing the success of their fellow Chicagoans.
Check out our gallery of all three bands to relive the incredible evening, and head here for the scoop on the rest of 30 Days in Chicago.
Mt Joy
NE-HI
Whitney
PHOTOS: Night Riots, Dreamers, and The Maine at House of Blues
Earlier this week, Night Riots, Dreamers, and The Maine performed to a packed House of Blues. Check out photos from all three energetic performances below!
The tour continues throughout the month. To catch it in a city near you, head here for the remaining dates!
PHOTOS: Ariel Pink at Thalia Hall 10.28.17
Ariel Pink took over Pilsen's Thalia Hall this Saturday night for a lively performance. There was never a dull moment during the show, which included a set mixed with older songs and new ones from Pink's latest album, Dedicated To Bobby Jameson. See photos from the show below, and check the rest of Ariel Pink's upcoming tour dates here.
Can't get enough Ariel Pink? Listen to Dedicated to Bobby Jameson in full below!
LIVE: Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile Bring a Lotta Sea Lice and a Lotta Talent to Empty Bottle
Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett-- and their band of Sea Lice--closed out their three night sold out streak in Chicago at the legendary Empty Bottle. The pair took the stage just around 9:30, forgoing an opener, to perform songs from their recently released collaborative album Lotta Sea Lice. Their stunning performance began with Vile and Barnett's debut single from the aforementioned album, "Over Everything."
From the get go, the crowd at the intimate venue radiated their excitement, displaying as much enthusiasm as a crowd of a larger size. Vile and Barnett radiated a similarly infectious energy, and an electric current of chemistry flowed between the duo and their other bandmates, which included Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney. While the pair performed songs from their Lotta Sea Lice album, they also bounced back and fourth between performing their own songs and covers from other artists. Although they both performed songs from their past albums, Barnett and Vile reworked their songs to make them duets, with Barnett taking on parts in Vile's songs like "Life Like This" and "On Tour." Vile also contributed to the live performances of Barnett's songs like "Depreston" and "Dead Fox." While they performed, the two would often back away from their microphone stands to meet in the middle of the humble stage, facing each other as they strummed their guitars. Whenever they did this, the musical chemistry between them only grew stronger, making the show that much more special.
Other highlights of the set included the performance of Belly's song "Untogether" and Gillian Welch's song "Elvis Presley Blues." The latter opened up the band's three song encore, and Vile and Barnett performed that cover as a duo without their band. The stripped back performance allowed for the duo's harmonies and flawless vocals to really shine through. As the night wound down, Barnett mentioned that the Empty Bottle had been where she played her first show in Chicago, so it was great to be back. The set closed out with two more of the pair's own songs; "Pretty Pimpin'" and "Avant Gardener."
The pairing of Barnett and Vile on this album and the accompanying tour showcases the magic that can happen when artists come together and instill a sense of community and camaraderie in the music industry. If you missed out on the spectacular evening, check out our photo gallery of the show below.
If you can't get enough Kurt and Courtney, check out some photos from their second night in Chicago, at Thalia Hall.
See the rest of the Courtney and Kurt tour dates here, and listen to Lotta Sea Lice in full below!
Thumbnail photo taken at Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile's show at Thalia Hall on 10.27
PHOTOS: The Lemon Twigs and The Symposium at Thalia Hall
Last Thursday night, Chicago's own The Symposium returned from a hiatus to warm up the Thalia Hall stage for The Lemon Twigs. The four piece got the crowd grooving and ready for the retro inspired rock n' roll from siblings Brian D’Addario and Michael D’Addario. By the time the D'Addario brothers and their band took the stage, they captivated the crowd immediately with songs from their debut LP and new EP, Brothers of Destruction. The first half of the set featured Michael at the front of the stage, singing and on guitar, with Brian on the drums. About half way in, they swapped roles, with Brian moving center stage to rev up the energy with his signature high kicks.
If you missed out on the infectiously energetic evening, relive the moment with our gallery below.
Keep up with tour news and music updates from The Lemon Twigs via their Facebook Page, and listen to Brothers of Destruction in full below!
PHOTOS: LANY at House of Blues 10.20.17
LANY took over House of Blues in Chicago to perform two nights in front of a packed house, and we were there to experience the first night. Their setlist included songs from their self-titled debut album, early EPs, and even a cover of Harry Styles' "Sign of the Times." A customized light show and changing visuals combined with frontman Paul Jason Klein's charismatic stage presence further enhanced the show for the crowd. If you missed out on the shows, get a glimpse of the experience by looking through our gallery below.
PHOTOS: Julien Baker, Half Waif, and Petal at Thalia Hall
This past Sunday night, a stacked lineup of incredible artists shared the stage at Thalia Hall. Petal opened the night, returning only a few weeks after her tour with Slow Dancer. Half Waif, the project of Nandi Rose Plunkett (who sometimes plays in Pinegrove) followed, and Julien Baker closed out the night. Baker performed crowd favorites like "Everybody Does" and "Funeral Pyre," but she also gave the crowd a teaser of her upcoming album, out this Friday on Matador Records. The spruced up set also included some of Baker's latest singles, "Appointments" and "Turn Out The Lights," which is also the sophomore album's title track. Relive the evening with our photo gallery below.
Julien Baker finishes up tour this weekend--see the rest of the dates here, and listen to her latest single below! You can also pre-order Turn Out The Lights right here.
PHOTOS: This is the Kit at Constellation
This is the Kit took over Constellation on Friday with a full sound featuring banjos and a horn section. Check out photos from the magical evening below.
This is the Kit will return in December with The National. Grab tickets to those shows here, and while you wait for their return, listen to their latest album in full below!
Can't get enough This is the Kit? Revisit our interview with them here.