Shovels & Rope @ The Axis Club - Toronto
April 4th 2022 - Shovels & Rope, Jeremie Albino @ The Axis Club - Toronto
Shovels & Rope in Toronto - Photos Courtesy of Jenn Kostesky
Charleston based Americana power couple Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, known musically as Shovels & Rope, paid a visit to Toronto’s The Axis Club April 3 2022. The stop fell roughly midway through the duo’s tour in support of their latest LP Manticore, released February 18 via Dualtone Records.
As they are wont to do, the couple floated between instruments with each taking a turn on guitar, drums and piano. The 18 song set leaned heavily on material from Manticore as well as the couple’s first album under the moniker Shovels & Rope, O’ Be Joyful, which is celebrating a decade since its release. The couple offered up some quieter, more subdued moments throughout the set, “The Show”, “Shank Hill St.”, and “Bleed Me”, highlighting their passionate harmonies. Fan favorites “O’ Be Joyful”, “Birmingham”, “The Wire”, and ragtime inspired, piano driven version of “Ohio” had the welcoming crowd singing along with every word. Wrapping up their Sunday night set with heavy hitters “I’m Coming Out”, “Hail, Hail” and “Domino”, Shovels & Rope returned took to the stage for a 2 song encore of “Happy Birthday Who” and the Beach Boy’s “In My Room” to wind down the evening.
Toronto’s own Jeremie Albino opened the night with a solo set armed only with a guitar, harmonica and kick drum. The songwriter, who is accompanying Shovels & Rope on their North American tour, is hot off the release of his latest EP Past Dawn.
The Manticore North American tour continues through April 16 before heading to Europe in June.
Jeremie Albino
Wolf Alice @ Stage AE - Pittsburgh
April 1st 2022: Wolf Alice with Charlie Hickey @ Stage AE - Pittsburgh
Glass Animals in Washington DC - Photos Courtesy of Gabby Ames
Wolf Alice went on their second US headline tour for their recent album Blue Weekend. They played a sold out show at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, with support from Charlie Hickey. The venue had a very intimate feeling which made it easier for the band to interact with the audience during the set. Bringing in the emotions with No Hard Feelings and showing angst with Play The Greatest Hits, it was definitely a show to remember.
Charlie Hickey
Glass Animals @ The Anthem - Washington DC
March 29th 2022: Glass Animals with Sad Night Dynamite @ The Anthem - Washington DC
Glass Animals in Washington DC - Photos Courtesy of Gabby Ames
On March 29th, Glass Animals brought all the energy to Washington DC on their first of two sold out shows. They played songs from their first album ZABA as well as their more recent album Dreamland. With an incredible set design that brought the cover of Dreamland to life, they finished off the night playing their hit “Heat Waves”.
Sad Night Dynamite
Together Pangea @ Cobra Lounge - Chicago
Together Pangea with Sad Park + Skating Polly @ Cobra Lounge - Chicago
Together Pangea in Chicago - Photos Courtesy of Kaitlyn Johnston
Together Pangea brought their brand of loud indie punk to a sold-out crowd at Cobra Lounge on Easter weekend. Saturday’s crowd showed up early, and in a big way. The lineup for this leg of the tour seemed to be catered perfectly for Together Pangea’s die-hards to find their new favorite bands. Opening the evening was Sad Park - a young band reminiscent of if emo sweethearts Prince Daddy & the Hyena lost their hard exterior and focused on being a more palatable, radio-ready version of their best attributes. Following was Skating Polly - a band so dynamic and diverse musically that there was no time to lose interest in their 45 min set. With loads of punk energy and loud, saturated bass lines - Skating Polly took charge of the stage and claimed it as their own. Both openers did an excellent job of setting up the evening for Together Pangea. The band took the stage, and from the first note, the room exploded with energy. The California veterans tore through 19 songs quickly and without a wasted moment and left the room wanting more.
Sad Park
Skating Polly
Geographer @ Sleeping Village - Chicago
March 29th 2022: Geographer with Chong the Nomad @ Sleeping Village - Chicago
You’d never know it from the low-key exterior of Sleeping Village in Chicago, but on the evening of March 29, the inside of the venue was a glow. Geographer and Chong The Nomad as support came through with some of the best live sets I’ve ever seen.
Chong The Nomad is a name you must keep on your radar as an ethereal vocalist and jaw-droppingly talented electronic producer. Her music forces you to dance- you just can’t help it. While the crowd was small during her opening set, she performed as if it were for a festival of thousands and danced around the stage often forgetting about her own sprained ankle she mentioned at the start of her set.
The drummer and lead vocalist duo that made up Geographer’s live show also provided a beautiful performance of light and color, both sonically and visually. While simple, their production of neon glowing beams behind them set up their show for greatness, and even with just two artists gracing the stage, their presence was massive. Geographers’ sound builds within each of their individual songs but also builds throughout their set, reaching anthem-level energy even within such a small space.
The Geographer and Chong The Nomad tour wraps up this week with dates in El Paso and Tucson, and I definitely look forward to what’s to come from both of these artists.
Chong the Nomad
Matt Maltese @ Beat Kitchen - Chicago
March 27th 2022: Matt Maltese with Girl Puppy @ Beat Kitchen - Chicago
Matt Maltese - Photos Courtesy of Alana Swaringen
Matt Maltese hosted his sold-out Chicago show on March 27th at Beat Kitchen, with Girlpuppy as his support. The combination of these artists on this bill was a perfect setup, as both provide a very haunting and intimate sound but in entirely different ways. Girlpuppy gave a dreamy and melodic intro to the evening and while her soft grunge aesthetic contrasts Matt Maltese’s sound, her performance was what was needed to get the night started.
Upon reflection, this evening really caught me by surprise- Maltese’s committed fans waited outside long before doors opened, and were passionate about nailing that perfect spot to see the talented piano player and singer. What was surprising was as a performer who’s seated during his entire set, Maltese can only provide so much crowd interaction that the appeal of being close to him didn’t seem to cross my mind. But once his show began, I understood the captivation that his sound provides, the sonic energy that just pulls you in and makes you want to do anything to catch a glimpse of him moving his fingers across the piano keys. Maltese also had no lack of crowd interaction whatsoever, constantly checking in on his audience and cracking jokes. Maltese’s haunting and emotionally fueled ballads were balanced with intertwined humor. It was clear that almost everyone in the room was both moved and entertained.
Matt Maltese just completed his US run and will continue some touring in the Uk and Europe when the fall rolls around. To hold us over until we can see him live once again, check out his recent 5 song EP drop “Quiet Recordings” out now.
Girl Puppy
Tyler, the Creator, Kali Uchis, Vince Staples and Teezo Touchdown @ Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee
Call Me If You Get Lost Tour at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Photos and words courtesy of Victoria Sanders @veesanders.
CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
It was just about four years to the date from the first time I had covered Vince Staples and Tyler, the Creator. They had a tour in 2018 that had two sold-out nights at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to cover Vince Staples a handful more times before the Call Me If You Get Lost tour which has Tyler, the Creator headling, and support from the ethereal Kali Uchis, in my very biased opinion, one the best on a stage - Vince Staples, and Teezo Touchdown to kick things off.
I went up to an absolutely freezing Milwaukee to cover this show, walked into the venue during the start of a snowstorm and left with measurable snow on the ground - but that fact did not stop a single person from showing up and making as much noise as they could for each and every artist. Teezo’s set had a very midwestern garage feel to it that I’m sure most of the crowd could related to - a very DIY home improvement vibe for sure.
Kali Uchis
Vince Staples performed entirely on the b-stage, or the stage in the middle of the floor ticketed space with no set, just lights and haze. That’s all he ever honestly has needed. His ability to control a crowd’s attention based on his style has always existed, and he continues to master it on the arena-level now.
Kali Uchis was back on the main stage with a minimal set, bright and fitting lighting and her dancers who enhanced her already every perfect move. Having seen and covered Kali’s sets in various sized venues in the past, she was born to control an arena stage and crowd. In the 15 or so minutes the media had access to take photos of her, I don’t think I ever stopped because every single move was made to be captured.
…and of course the night ends with Tyler. Starting off with the crowds physically measurable anticipation, the scale and detail of the set is immediately visible, with Tyler being driven up and out of the stage to the front of the stage-sized mansion façade. A few songs in brings Tyler his speedboat to drive him to the b-stage, which just adds to the entire production - from start to finish - being put together as an experience, not merely a show one goes to and leaves at the end. The b-stage had the feel of an island, with it’s sparse vegetation, and had amazingly intimate lighting to make the entire experience feel like it’s just you and Tyler on that island. Each time Tyler moved a single inch, the crowd moved along with him till the set ended with RUNITUP.
Vince Staples
Also of major note to as far as production details - when Who Dat Boy was performed, a silhouette of A$AP Rocky could be seen in the mansions windows. One of many well-thought out production parts to this amazing tour.
Teezo Touchdown
