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 113 shows.
“Lots of great entertainment tonight at Beat Kitchen, that’s a Bow & Spear guarantee!”-and how! This was one of those shows that feels like one big inside joke–Michael and the Slipper Tree anyone? I will do my best to skip the bits that are only funny if you were there and stick to the performances.
A noisy, screeching, wail filled Beat Kitchen as Bow & Spear started their set. It slowly cleared to reveal heavy chorded rock. The lead singer, David Ritter, swayed under the pressure of the music. The drummer sat in a tight arrangement of drums; John Bergman is fast and concise with his movements. During “Void Boy” you could see him build up pressure, and hold back, getting pumped, and then let loose in a cavalcade of percussion. It was a great moment.
Through the noise and distortion, you could feel the love and tenderness Slow Mass was putting into their first song, “Oldest Youngest.” The way they played seemed like practiced experimentation; their plucking, their playing, the effects they were dialing in on their instruments. I could see they were searching for a sound and then finding it. It was really cool to watch them work. Although their music mostly lives in emo washes and layered effects, they also used dry guitar and even silence. Likewise, their vocals went from tender intimacy to yelling outrage.
Their dry humor between songs gave way to a more somber note as they encouraged the audience to make donations to Jemel Roberson, the security guard fatally shot by police at Manny’s Blue Room nightclub just a few days earlier. It was a sensitive note to end on and done with care.
Rozwell Kid has clever lyrics and emotive, heavy-chorded music a la Weezer. They put on a funny, energetic, and sweaty show. Lead singer, Jordan Hudkins, threw his body into the music; between songs, he cracked jokes and shared stories of the road. Hudkins was the one on mic, so it was his personality that pulled together the band’s performance. But, all the musicians on stage gave us their passion. The guitar player, Ben Gauthier, was completely cool as he nodded his head to the music. I loved the powerful stance of bassist Devon Donnelly and the classic punk style of drummer Sean Hallock. He hit every beat with gusto.
I loved the effusive fun of seeing these guys live. The audience did too. From shoring up a compromised mic stand to impromptu chants of, “Keith, Keith, Keith!” You see, they had this teddy bear… I’m sorry, yes, I know… you just had to be there.
Bow & Spear Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Slow Mass Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Rozwell Kid Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
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