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
Tierra Whack @ House of Vans - Chicago
Tierra Whack at House of Vans (Chicago) courtesy of Azuree Wiitala (azureewiitala.com / @azureewiitala)
On February 26th House of Vans had their first in person performance for a while and we were stoked it was Tierra Whack. House of Vans is one of my favorite venues, the Goose lsland juice is freely flowing, there are always fun art installs and activations and of course sick swag.
DJ Hot Rod opened the night up and got us all pumped for Tierra. His set was abundant in 90’s throwbacks that kept the crowd amped and dancing. House DJ Xover did their thing from upstairs and kept everyone hyped to be back at House of Vans in person with all our besties and future besties.
When Tierra Whack blessed us with her presence the room exploded. Fxlks were s c r e a m i n g “WHACK!” We were met with Tierra’s awesome and enigmatic energy. She filled up the room. She came out in a yellow puffer vest, blue jumper and the reddest hair that was playfully tossed throughout her set. Big energy out of Philly and her set did not disappoint. Already can not wait for the next time she rolls back through!
Jelani Aryeh @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia, PA
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.
