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 46 weeks into the year, and I have seen 190 shows.
A simple set-up and a quick hand to layer elements makes Yummm a one-man band, electronic dance party. It was impossible to not move to those enticing beats. “I want to be, I want to be, your gen-tle hu-man” in his first song, “Gentlehuman.” The way he played with the layers and elements of the music was ever evolving and engaging. A killer rapid beat set things up for what was either his second song or a continuation of play. It kicked up the energy and evolved. He ended abruptly saying, “I’m using this looper to build the music and sometimes it gets out of hand.” But, from where I was standing, it was out of hand in a good way.
For “Parody,” he put a heavy vocoder effect on his vocals, creating an almost underwater sound. “I’m scared of what you mean to me. Will you be my waste of time?” hit me through the effects. Whether vocals are obscured or clear, they are beautiful–breathy high end, thick middle, and gravel at the bottom.
Queen of Jeans performed dynamic songs. “Get Lost” started sweet and simple with the slow addition of instruments building the sound and the passion. They kept that trajectory with “Centuries.” The building of energy was not just during a song, but the whole performance. They moved more and smiled more and shred more. The drummer, Patrick Wall, was a well oiled machine with a sensitive touch, giving us exactly what the song needed. Miriam Devora’s voice was so sweet and beautiful, and when combined with the drama of “Tell Me,” I was deeply moved.
But, this band is not sweet, they are powerful. They played with a wide stance, head tossing, stutter stepping, and barely contained energy. “Love will always fuck you over” are not lyrics of sweet music. The crescendo of power chord glory that was “Take It All” was only matched by the three frontline musicians sharing the mic at the end of “All the Same.”
The audience hooted out greetings to lead singer, Joey Vannucchi, as From Indian Lakes took the stage. They played an almost entirely continuous set, but when Vannucchi did talk, it was simple and charming. He stood at the mic and sang in that breathy way that characterizes their music, twisting his feet as he got into the music. His band brought the energy to the stage. They smiled and danced with the music, especially the bass player. He bounced around in a carefree kind of way. It all came together in a really authentic performance. Chill music for people who don’t care whether they are cool, and by virtue of not caring, they automatically are.
I was especially drawn to the rolling pace of “Dissonance.” The classic guitar sounds on “It Pulls You Up” were great. But, it was the ending song “Sunlight” played stripped back to just guitars and Vannucchi that was the stand out moment of their set. The audience sang along with all their hearts, and it was undeniably beautiful.
Yummm Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Queen of Jeans Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
From Indian Lakes Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
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