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 22 weeks into the year and I have seen 103 shows.
With both a drum kit and a conga player, it’s no surprise that Badge Époque is all about the rhythm. Their jazz/funk fusion is grounded in rhythms and iced by flute. Alia O’Brien’s flute melodies are sometimes supported by the reed-toned keys aka clavinet played by Maximilian “Twig” Turnbull.
On “Feb Blues,” there were these yummy runs the flute fell down them over and over and the keys followed. It made shivers run down my spine. It was easy to lose track of the songs as they flowed from one delicious jam to another. Each player showed themselves to be the master of their instrument. As each musician took center stage, the others would smile and wag their heads in admiration. My favorite of these interactions was near the end of “Undressed in Solitude” when Chris Benzat’s guitar and O’Brien’s flute first took turns and then wove around each other, going in and out of harmony, in and out of melody and counter-melody. Something about that funky, gut-pulling wah pedal with the brain tickling flute was perfection.
Pulling from a whole range of African American music, Mourning [A] Blkstar (MAB) brought us messages of their experiences: their struggles, their joys, their heartbreaks. This band was so polished and so smooth, the music soul perfection, it was easy to allow their stories to wash over you and sink in slowly. You accepted the beauty, felt the pain. They had a full stage, but it was evident throughout the set that even with so many players, or maybe because of it, they were very aware of how to balance their sound to each other. I think they probably could have played without any amplification and been able to balance their sound. With a bigger stage, I hope they can bring even more players in the future.
But most important (and an already killer component) to MAB’s sound are its three vocalists: Latoya Kent, James Longs, and Kyle Kidd. They each brought a unique tone to the music. All had deep soul tugging, shiver inducing, emotional heft. When all three of them got going, it was nearly overwhelming. I felt bowled over. But then, the gospel-like “Star” lifted me up. Longs transported us to the heavens as he sang,
We could be, if stars aligned, a better glow than human kind.
…taking it up and up and giving us some beautiful near falsetto you don’t get on the recording. If the messaging of their music hadn’t hit home yet, when Latoya Kent sang “BLK Musak,” she bought it down like a ton of bricks. It was like watching “This is America” for the first time–sometimes it pays to throw subtlety out the door.
![Mourning [A] Blkstar, photo by Tina Mead](https://i0.wp.com/midwestaxn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MAB13_tlm.jpeg?w=404&h=269&ssl=1 "MAB13_tlm")
There are so many people on the stage, it is an instant party when the band started to play. The pop-disco appeal of U.S. Girls–and her Chicago roots–made for a sold out show and a very enthusiastic crowd. There was a lot of emphatic dancing up front with me. Meghan Remy, the creative force behind the band, shares the stage generously with her band, especially the other vocalist. Remy danced with her whole body, popping her hips and throwing herself around with exquisite elegance. Her backing vocalist was more subtle, twisting her hips and moving her hands in arcs, large and small.
As Remy bared her soul in “Sororal Feelings,” I felt my heart pierced and goosebumps on my skin. The betrayal, anguish, and violation were thick in the air. The keys player joined center stage, forming a Greek chorus, observing, supporting, and empathizing to dramatic effect. It was theatrical and moving.
During the final song, “Window Shade,” Remy sat on the edge of the stage, singing, “Feel no regret pretend that I’m glad that we met, I won’t I won’t I won’t.” Then, she was on the floor. She simply collapsed with heartbreak. I almost forgot to breath I was so caught up in Remy’s body writhing on the Empty Bottle’s floor. The chorus was back observing, reaching out and then accepting her as a lost soul as she disappeared from the room.
Badge Époque Bandcamp | Instagram
Mourning [A] Blkstar Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
U.S. Girls Facebook | Links to Listen | Instagram
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