Lyn Lapid & Eric Nam @ The Vic Theater - Chicago, IL
Eric Nam at Chicago’s Vic Theater.
Photos and words by Victoria Sanders (@veesanders).
Eric Nam has been called an accidental K-Pop star. The Korean-American superstar competed on Star Audition: Birth of a Great Star 2 in Seoul in 2011/12. He placed within the top five, and there’s been no looking back. This January, Nam released his second English-language album, There and Back Again, and has been supporting it’s release on a sold-out US tour. Fans lined up hours in advance of the Chicago show coming from cities near and far to experience the show, which had amazing production, choreography and energy. The fan-created signs ranged from kid-friendly to can’t-show-your-grandmother, and Eric made sure to check every one of them out. We covered the show in Chicago, with the fantastic and dreamy Lyn Lapid opening up.
Eric Nam / Chicago
Photo: @veesanders
Neil Frances + Luke Wild @ Lincoln Hall, Chicago
Neil Frances at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall.
Photos and words by Alana Swaringen (@allamma)
An epic night of dancing was had by all who attended the intimate but entirely groovy Neil Frances show at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, on February 18th- the disco ball that permanently hangs in the venue was truly a paid actor that evening.
The night kicked off with Luke Wild opening, Wild himself on lead guitar accompanied only by his drummer. But even in small numbers, the duo provided major sound fueled by shredding guitar riffs and emotionally charged lyrics that Wild very candidly explained to the audience in between songs. This is an artist we should all be keeping tabs on.
Then it was time for the party to begin. A Neil Frances show is a true piece of sonic performance art, something you’d be sure to find in an underground European club or my personal manifestation, a small stage sundown set at Pitchfork Music Festival. But wherever you are transported to, you are definitely captivated. Neil Frances provides a set full of ebb and flow, individual songs grow into each other as if you were attending a House EDM show yet the sound is provided by a classic four piece band. For fans of Tame Impala looking for a more digestible and positive aura, Neil Frances is the group that will solve that missing vibe.
Cate Le Bon with Mega Bog @ Thaila Hall - Chicago, IL
Photos & words courtesy of Alyssa Leicht | February 14th 2022
“Hello, Chicago.”
That’s how the wryly grinning, soft-spoken Cate Le Bon greeted the crowd at Thalia Hall on Valentine’s Day. Le Bon, the Welsh songwriter signed to the independent label Mexican Summer, played a set skewed mostly toward her superb new album “Pompeii,” but also included many favorites from 2019’s LP, “Reward.”
The crowd was intensely focused and energetic for hits “Miami” and “Daylight Matters” from “Reward,” which had Le Bon stepping out from behind her fluorescent orange guitar to command the stage. Singles “Moderation” and “Remembering Me” from the 10-days-old “Pompeii” also matched that energy, culminating with Le Bon side-winding while playing a reverby psych-noise guitar solo.
The night was dotted with signs of romance for the holiday, beginning with Erin Birgy, singer of the opening act Mega Bog, placing a pink rose in a vase at the front of the stage. Mega Bog, offering up a spectacular stripped down two-piece set reminiscent of Laurie Anderson and Kate Bush, felt right at home opening for Le Bon.
Le Bon also gestured toward the air of love in the room several times. “Some sage advice for you all…” she said softly, as she and the band, sans bass player, returned to the stage for the encore the crowd demanded. She then began a sweetly sincere rendition of Paul McCarntney’s love song Waterfalls, which goes:
Don't go jumping waterfalls
Please keep to the lake
People who jump waterfalls
Sometimes can make mistakes
And I need love, yeah I need love
Like a second needs an hour
Like a raindrop needs a shower
Yeah I need love every minute of the day
And it wouldn't be the same
If you ever should decide to go away
VALLEY @ The Foundry - Philadelphia, PA
Words & Photos courtesy of Carolyn Lederach | February 19th 2022
To say that the Valley show was one of the most fun shows I’ve been to in a while would be an understatement. After having Valley on repeat for most of the pandemic, it was super exciting to finally catch them live. Their thoughtful and fun songwriting gives their music a sad but fun feel. The four-piece give their live show an extra something special since all four members are super interactive throughout the show, sometimes switching out who is playing, singing, it really is a way to keep you on your toes when watching the show. The Foundry always gives a bit of restriction to performance range for most bands, but Valley really found a way to make the most of the space available. With the span of their career thus far they have really continued to get better with every release and I’m super excited to see how this band continues to grow, they deserve it all.
Wallice & Still Woozy @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago
Still Woozy in Chicago (2022/02/19). Photography and words by Victoria Sanders (@veesanders).
Still Woozy (Interscope) came to Chicago with a massively full crowd ready to dance and sing along for his If This Isn't Nice Tour. The room was already full by the time Wallice took the stage, one of Dirty Hit Records’s newest artists. Follow along our gallery for some of our favorite moments from The Riviera Theatre, located in the Uptown Neighborhood of the city.
Bad Suns @ Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
Words & Photos courtesy of Carolyn Lederach | February 20th 2022
Like most bands, it’s been a minute since we’ve seen Bad Suns out on tour. A band that is no stranger to touring their four albums. The latest is their newest album, Apocolypse Whenever. I’ve been following Bad Suns since the release of Language & Perspective in 2014 and this was somehow the first time I was able to actually make it to a show and they did not disappoint! You can tell Bad Suns are a band that are no strangers to the stage, with every move perfectly planned. The setlist was the perfect combo of the new album as well as the old gems.
Opening the show were the equally great Little Image and Kid Bloom who both brought the fun in preparation for Bad Suns set.
Kid Bloom & Little Image:
Cautious Clay @ House of Blues - Chicago, IL
Photos and words courtesy of Emily Nava | February 11 2022
On Friday February 2nd 2022, Chicago music fans gathered at a sold out House of Blues Chicago for an incredible performance by R&B and pop act Cautious Clay on the first night of his Karma and Friends Tour.
Opening the show was Julius Rodriguez, who is also a member of Cautious Clay's touring band. Rodriguez brought the night to a relaxed yet soulful start with jazz-influenced piano and backing instruments.
As stagehands and band members set up the stage, the crowd's anticipation grew and all were chanting "Cautious Clay, Cautious Clay!". From the moment Cautious Clay and his band members took the stage, there was an undeniable excitement from the crowd with nonstop singing along to the music and cheers with each new instrument he used (flute, saxophone, and guitar to be exact!). Cautious Clay played a variety of songs from all of his past releases including hits such as "Cold War", "Dying In The Subtlety", and "French Riviera". Though the show was full of high energy, Cautious Clay also showed softness and vulnerability through his honest lyrics, banter, and by debuting a new song he was working on. With a number of Chicago performances under his belt, each taking place at venues significantly larger than the last, I am certain this will not be the last one Chicago will see from Cautious Clay.
Samia @ Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL
Photos and words courtesy of Emily Nava | January 30 2022
On January 30th 2022, Samia and her band brought Loving U Thanking U The Tour to Chicago at a sold out Thalia Hall. Opening act Annie DiRusso charmed the crowd with banter in between songs of hers such as "Don't Swerve" and "Dead Dogs".
Between hits from her debut album The Baby such as "Limbo Bitch" "Big Wheel" and "Triptych", Samia captivated the crowd with a radiant energy expressed through dance moves and candid conversations with audience members. Throughout the set, Samia showed gratitude for those in attendance and even played a new song called "Pour Some Sugar" which was received well from the audience. As the night came to a close, Samia ended her set with a cover of "Maps" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs and an encore of "Show Up" from the Scout EP.
