My goal is to see one show per week. Yes, I might be that annoying friend that just has to tell you about the thing you missed, but I’m also catching every great show in the city of Chicago–with plenty more ahead of me. Welcome to the Chicago Concert Dispatch.
At the time of this show, it is 51 weeks into the year and I have seen 127 shows. This is my last post for 2018. My total show count was 129. Nice odd number.
Flesh Panthers delivered raw, dirty, garage rock. These guys showed up, plugged in, and let it rip. Lead singer, Ryan Zombotron, was a loose foot stomping soulful showman that knew what he was doing. The band’s bounce came from the knees; it got the audience low and grooving. The music was full of “ooo”s and “yeah”s and “na-na-na”s. Somehow that always makes for the perfect rock n roll sound.
If you’ve ever lamented that you weren’t alive in the 1960s-1970s for the first wave of blues-inspired rock, seeing the Blackfoot Gypsies should be on your bucket list. They are the real deal. The thick crowd meant we were pressed right up to the stage (it’s only about 8 inches high there), but I love being close to the stage, so I was in heaven.
On the narrow Tonic Room stage, every move Blackfoot Gypsies made had impact, sometimes literally. I actually got smacked in the shoulder by Dylan’s bass, with many more close calls. Their stage work was perfectly crafted to create a balls-to-the-walls, bone-rattling show. From their outrageous outfits–they removed a fur jacket, a hat, a scarf, a shirt (costume change!)–to their classic showmanship, they crafted a sound was that perfect vintage balance of fuzz and clarity, with some shimmies, kicks, and slides thrown in for good measure.
The guitar was dirty and cutting. The bass gave us a strut. The drummer was out of control. The vocals growled and whined at the same time. Their songs turned into epic jams. After one lead vocal Matthew said, “Did anyone time that? The longest we have on record is 12 minutes.” Alas, I did not. It was easy to lose track of time watching these guys, and their double set was over 1.5 hours long in total.
Blackfoot Gypsies had a two night stint at Tonic Room; I was at the first. I wish I could have gone to both, I couldn’t get enough. The Gypsies threw us a party, with audience members dancing themselves sweaty and passing around a scruffy mascot head. Why wouldn’t I want more of that? This kind of rock ‘n’ roll is a way of life, and Matthew gave me a mantra for 2019: “Let’s make tomorrow jealous of today.”
Flesh Panthers Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Blackfoot Gypsies Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
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