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 5 weeks into the year and I have seen 16 shows.
It was the tail end of the polar vortex and the Empty Bottle’s crowd were hardy cabin fever escapees. We were rewarded for our bravery with three great bands. As Marites of Ovef Ow pointed out, it was a night of kickass lady drummers.
Baby Money and the Down Payments opened up our night of fierce women. There are few things I love more than a female vocalist that knows how to growl. The music seems simple and almost sweet, but Pam Maurer (aka Baby Money) throws herself into her vintage rock rooted music, giving it an edge. Bass player Hilary Brown strutted and bent her body under the music. Like all of the bands that night, drummer Sarah Neczwid embodied the music. She did it with the shrug of her shoulder and the nod of her head, the satisfaction of that perfect beat is written all over her face.
Things really started heating up with Bleach Party playing at a bounce inducing pace, with blistering guitar. It was happy and fierce. Meg MacDuff sang with full-throated abandon; her wailing pulled at my gut. Drummer Kaylee Preston had a muscular style of playing that radiated joy with every strike of her sticks.
When the three ladies of Ovef Ow started singing in harmony I couldn’t help but be reminded of hard rocking bands like the B52s. That perfect balance of sweet and kick-ass. The dude on guitar, Nick Barnett, kicked ass too, he gave us cutting licks to contrast to the bass line laid down by Marites Velasquez. She moved with confidence as she thrummed. Each song she found a new way to bend or step with the intricate lines of music. Our third and final killer drummer of the night! Sarah Braunstein played with with a drive that pushed the pace of the music and gave it that angry edge.
Baby Money & the Down Payments Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Bleach Party Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Ovef Ow Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
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