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 50 weeks into the year, and I have seen 195 shows.
I interviewed The Bascinets in 2018, but hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing them live before this chilly December. Part of the appeal of their EP, 378 Vol. 2, was the production of the recording. They layered vocals and brought in odd effects and violin and worked on it as a passion project that paid off. Their live show was bound to be something completely different. When they opened with “Bikes” I got that thrill of recognition that comes when a band plays one of your favorite tunes. They delivered on jangly guitar, bouncy groovin’ bass, and punchy drums. When Nick’s strap broke, they were all smiles. That go with the flow kind of happiness permeated their set and made it a fun show to watch, too. They closed with “Asparagus.” It picked up speed and power as it went along and I would have followed it anywhere.
They were tight. They were fun. The Faux Furrs continued that loose happy vibe, but with a but had more of a psych swirl to it. Chris Day’s synth gives their music a glistening depth. That jangly guitar infuses all their tunes with dancing on the beach or prancing through a field happiness. Drummer, Nick Kabat, added just-right touches to the rhythm. Lena Rush was melodically stellar, on the bass, shown to best effect on songs like “Wrong About It.” Birthday boy, Ryan Deffet’s vocals cut through it all with ease. I loved the way they brought some thrash into that prancing vibe for “Bag Baby”. It is a bit dif than the recording, in a good way. But the song that really stood out was their closer, “Invaiders.” More of that surf guitar and killer bass lines we love them for. To be released in 2020.
The assault that came off the stage as the headliners started playing was anything but gentle. The guitar driven rock was punctuated by Tim Mack’s loose yet intense drumming. David Algrim’s vocals cut through his guitar playing. Which was sometimes fuzzy, but always powerful. Algrim leaned back as he played to get leverage on the strings. Gentle Heat was celebrating their EP release, Phase. The stand out song of the set had to be the lead track, “A Lure.” It kicked off with the drums chugging along at high speed while the guitars echoed long fuzzy notes. It was a dichotomy I liked. The song developed and the slower washes won out, although their volume never let up.
The Bascinets Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Faux Furrs Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Gentle Heat Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
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