Tag: live music

TNK Fest 2025: Cameron Winter and Racing Mount Pleasant at Sleeping Village

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Every January, Chicago morphs into a dark, grey, barren, ice-filled ghost town. Or at least it feels that way, as the ever-bustling nightlife of the city slows to a dull hum and warm weather month partiers settle in for some rest and recuperation following holiday spending sprees, aided by the growing popularity of “dry January”.

Chicago’s own Audiotree understands firsthand how this collective hibernation can impact your favorite independent venues and bars, which is exactly why they created Tomorrow Never Knows (TNK) Fest, a collection of the best and brightest up and comers booked in the heart of January.

I was very excited to attend the January 18 show at Sleeping Village: Geese frontman Cameron Winter in his second solo show ever, following the release of his monumental debut solo album Heavy Metal, with opening band Racing Mount Pleasant (fka Kingfisher).

A seven-piece band formed at University of Michigan, Racing Mount Pleasant took the stage around 9:00pm. Their debut album, released under the band name Kingfisher (their name change was finalized just days before the Sleeping Village shows), titled Grip Your Fist, I’m Heaven Bound was released in November 2022. The group combines indie rock sensibilities (soft guitars and mellow vocals) with dense instrumental harmony and lilting meter changes, resulting in a warm, enveloping soundscape perfect for escaping into during cold January nights. Their sound is reminiscent of artists like Black Country, New Road, and Bon Iver. Despite playing without their drummer until the last song, the band performed a tight set to a receptive audience, and the lack of drums actually somewhat set the stage for the upcoming headliner set. “Do You Think I’m Pretty” was the stand-out track of the set, with an infectious, singable horn riff.

Next, Cameron Winter took the stage accompanied exclusively by an upright piano. His debut album, Heavy Metal, was released in early December of 2024, to mass critical acclaim. The album feels timeless, like it could have been released any time in the last 50 years. Winter taps into a more intimate, raw, and introspective side on Heavy Metal,  in comparison to Geese’s raucous, theatrical sound.

Winter controlled the crowd with little more than the pure strength and depth of his voice. Simply sitting at the piano with a white t-shirt on, he played through most of the tracks on the album, with a few unreleased songs sprinkled in. He stopped mid set to show the crowd a few items that had been tossed on stage, such as a Pokemon card, before continuing on, but Winter didn’t need to entertain the crowd with stage banter; the crowd was happy to witness the genius-in-the-making perform so early in his career. His candor and authenticity was a welcome and refreshing change. 
The first time I heard Heavy Metal, I felt like I was being spoken to personally. On a literal level, yes, as Winter addresses a character named “Nina” throughout the album, but I was also moved by his surrealistic lyricism littered with introspection on the human condition. Cameron Winter has nowhere to go but up, and I look forward to his meteoric rise to indie rock icon status.

Concert Review: The Blood Brothers

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On Friday, December 20th, I had the amazing opportunity to cover the first night of The Blood Brothers’ three-night sold-out run at Thalia Hall, as a part of their 20th anniversary tour for their album Crimes. One of my most anticipated shows of the year, it did not disappoint at all. The show follows the recent trend of more bands doing reunion tours and I am extremely grateful that I got to attend. While I only started to listen to The Blood Brothers earlier this year, they have quickly cemented themselves as one of my favorite bands. I love discovering new bands, even ones from before my time, and this show was a perfect example of that, with it being clear that I was one of the youngest people there.

As the night kicked off, Stress Positions, a hardcore punk band coming from Chicago, took the stage to open the show. Their set was extremely captivating, with high-speed D-beat drums and a talented vocalist with great stage presence. After hearing their set, I knew that I would become a fan and immediately followed them on social media to stay updated on their future shows and releases.

The Blood Brothers performed next, delivering an amazing show that I will always remember, especially with it being their first tour in over a decade.  As the show started, a very energetic pit opened right behind me, and I found myself going in it several times throughout. Within the first few songs, they played my favorite of theirs: “USA Nails.”  This show was exceptionally good live, as you could feel the energy in the venue along with the high speed and danceability of the song. Later into the set, they launched into the song “We Ride Skeletal Lightning,” another favorite of mine from their album Young Machetes. This song was amazing to see live, with great energy, vocals, guitar, and much more, as it picks up speed towards the end.

The band also had an exceptional stage presence. Both vocalists Jordan Billie and Johnny Whitney constantly moved around on stage, with Whitney crowd surfing and diving into the crowd several times as he interacted with the crowd. As the show neared an end, both vocalists wore fur coats that were thrown at them from the audience as the crowd cheered in excitement. As one of their final songs that night, The Blood Brothers played their most popular song, “Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck,” which had the crowd breaking into even more excitement as Whitney sang into the crowd for nearly the entire song. 

I found The Blood Brothers’ performance incredible and am super grateful to be able to cover this show. Their set and energy were amazing and gave me an unforgettable night. I highly recommend seeing The Blood Brothers’ live, and I suggest catching them on one of their upcoming stops for their 20th anniversary tour in celebration of their album Crimes.

Machine Girl at House of Blues

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On Friday, December 13th, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the second night of Machine Girl’s two sold-out shows at the House of Blues Chicago, in support of their recently released album titled MG Ultra. As a casual listener of Machine Girl who has recently started to dive deeper into their music, I was thrilled to be able to cover this show. Hearing my favorite Machine Girl songs, both old and new, made for an incredible experience and an amazing live performance.

One thing that I especially love about Machine Girl’s live performances is the live instrumentation used on what sounds seemingly like pure electronics. I first saw them open for 100 gecs on their 10000 gecs tour at the Aragon Ballroom in April of 2023 and loved their stage presence and energy, and this show took it to a completely different level. Seeing them up close with live electronics, guitars, drumming, and a keyboard made the show even more impressive.

The venue was sold out with little space to move, but there was still a pit full of energy, which made the show even more fun. The moment the show began, Machine Girl launched into several familiar songs, including “Nu Nu Meta Phenomena,” my favorite track from their newest album. They played almost their entire new album, MG Ultra, an impressive feat, as most artists tend to play only a few songs from their latest albums, usually focusing on the more popular tracks. I really appreciated that they played so many new songs, as it helped me get the chance to discover some of their new songs I have yet to listen to previously.

I found Machine Girl’s live performance incredible, and was thrilled to have had the opportunity to cover their show. From the energy, the music, the live instruments, and everything in between, the entire night was amazing. I highly recommend seeing Machine Girl live, and I highly recommend catching them on one of their stops on their ongoing tour in support of their new album MG Ultra. 

From Australia to Chicago: Pond Brings Psychedelic Bliss to The Vic Theatre

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CHICAGO | The Vic Theatre saw some psychedelic madness this past Friday with Australian five-piece Pond. The group is currently touring the U.S. and Canada for their new album, Stung!, which was released in June this year and is the quintet’s tenth album to date. Pond has performed many times in Chicago in the past, with their last appearance being at Metro in December of 2022. This was the group’s first time at the Vic, and an unforgettable one to say the least. Pond currently consists of Nicholas Allbrook, “Shiny” Joe Ryan, Jay Watson, Jamie Terry, and James Ireland. 

When Pond took the stage, it was obvious how much of a vibe this show was going to be. Opening with “Daisy” from their 2019 album Tasmania, the group immediately put in their all. Afterwards was the introduction to Stung!, playing “(I’m) Stung” next on their setlist, and the fans danced around like it was a classic. Lead singer Allbrook sang and spun across the tiny Vic stage like it was his own, with his vibrant stage presence engaging the audience even further. In fact, Allbrook encouraged people to dance around, and if they look like fools, who cares? 

Allbrook additionally took some time to acknowledge Chicago’s bitterly cold weather. Being from Australia, the group is not used to the cold and windy temperatures that Chicago experiences during this time in the year. Very opinionated on the matter, Allbrook told the audience how cold it was, to which the audience replied with a cheer as Chicagoans love talking about the weather. Even though it was cold outside, the inside of the theater felt the heat of the people moving, causing the crowd, and the band, to forget about the freezing temperature of the outdoors. 

The lighting for this concert really encapsulated the energy and aura of a true psych-rock show, combining visual elements on top of the audio from the band. It was ethereal, yet straight to the point. The audio had the perfect amount of effect to contrast the lighting, and I felt as if I walked into a colorful spiral of pure bliss. It was a magical night of music, dancing, and high spirits with every person that attended. Pond put on a performance like no other, catering to the psychedelia atmosphere they have shaped over the years, and they are truly a band worth seeing if you want to be exposed to a real psychedelic rock show. Check out their pre-show interview here!

The Elite Vessel Experience: Lexa Gates’ Unforgettable Performance

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On Monday, November 4th, Lexa Gates hit Chicago to kick off her Elite Vessel tour, and she did not disappoint.

When the Elite Vessel album and tour were announced, I immediately dove back into Lexa’s discography. She’s been on heavy rotation in my playlists ever since I discovered her 2022 album Universe Wrapped in Flesh. There’s something about her flow, that deep tone, and her beat selection that really draws me in. But what really hooked me was the raw, vulnerable storytelling in her lyrics. Songs like “Delusional” and “Selfish” became instant favorites because they felt real like she was letting us in on her personal thoughts, insecurities, relationships and frustrations. It’s that authenticity that makes her music so enjoyable.

Elite Vessel takes that honesty even further. Lexa is embracing vulnerability not as a weakness, but as a powerful force. Lexa shows that being open about your struggles is what makes her an “elite vessel” in her own right. The way she channels this into such beautiful, melodic raps really makes her stand out.

That mindset was front and center on November 4th when she took the stage at Chicago’s iconic Subterranean. As the crowd chanted her name, Lexa made a graceful entrance, descending the stairs and walking up to a stage decorated with a blank white tapestry and a small table holding a vase of roses. She flashed a warm smile, setting the tone for a performance that more than lived up to the hype.

Lexa gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, blasting through songs from Elite Vessel like “I Just Can’t Be Alone” and “Sweet… Time”. She also treated fans to some classic tracks from Universe Wrapped in Flesh, including “Rotten to the Core” and “The Person I Was Before”.

One of the best moments of the night came after she performed Stacy’s Chips. Lexa playfully stood on stage, demanding someone bring her some chips. After a long wait, the chips were finally delivered, and Lexa threw the bag of chips into the crowd, going just over my head into the hands of a lucky fan right beside me.

Lexa Gates is truly something special. She’s a beautiful artist and a great storyteller, unafraid to bare it all. That raw, bold energy is what made her performance unforgettable. The Elite Vessel tour is more than just a show; it’s an experience—a celebration of strength, vulnerability, and everything that makes Lexa Gates an elite artist in her own right. I’m grateful to have witnessed it firsthand and even more excited to see that Lexa’s just getting started.

Concert Review: Cory Wong and Couch at Palace Theatre

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On Sunday, November 24th, I had the pleasure of catching Cory Wong and Couch at Palace Theatre in St. Paul, MN. As the last show of their tour, the night felt extra special, a sentiment amplified by Wong being back in his hometown area. The Twin Cities turned out a packed crowd for Wong and his crew, with many long-time fans and a variety of ages in the audience.

Boston-based band Couch kicked off the show with their opening set at 8:00pm. A relatively newer group, Couch formed in 2019, sourcing seven members from across the US. The band includes lead singer Tema Siegel, Zach Blankstein on guitar, Danny Silverston on keys, Will Griffin on bass, Jared Gosinsky on drums, Jeffery Pinsker-Smith on trumpet, and Eric Tarlin on alto saxophone. If you’re anything like me, they may have popped up on your TikTok feed at some point with one of their viral videos.

I was very excited to hear the group perform live, and they did not disappoint. They performed mostly their funky original tunes with tasty horn licks and tight little solis complementing Siegel’s fantastic vocal melodies. They also included a couple covers in their set–namely an awesome funkified version of Justin Beiber’s hit “Sorry” and a pretty epic cover of the Schoolhouse Rock classic “Conjunction Junction.” You could tell this was the last night of the tour, as their set was smooth and polished from lots of reps with seamless transitions between songs.

Along with palpable chemistry, Couch had great stage presence and energy, getting the crowd dancing and even singing in three-part harmony at one point. Perfectly-timed key changes consistently raised the energy, which is exactly what you want from an opener tasked with getting the crowd excited for the headlining act.

After a quick break to turn the stage over, Cory Wong and his band came out with a bang. The eleven-piece ensemble included drumset, auxiliary percussion, keys, bass, three saxes, trombone, trumpet, and two guitars including Wong and special guest Mark Lettieri (of the band Snarky Puppy) who doubled on the rare baritone guitar. With a mostly-instrumental set, Wong also invited Couch’s singer Tema Siegel and another guest vocalist up to sing a couple tunes.

Some of my notes from Wong’s set included phrases like “funk barrage” and “smacked in the face with a wall of funk,” (smacked in a good way of course). Driving rhythm guitar and funky basslines underscored tight, complex, syncopated horn solis, so it was no wonder that most of the crowd danced along to every song.

While the members of Couch showcased their individuality with unique outfits, Cory Wong’s band was decked out in matching jumpsuits, one of several visual elements that took the show to the next level. The stage was outfitted with stunning coordinated lights and a large screen that projected great graphic elements including clips of video games like guitar hero, Kanye West meme video clips, perfectly synchronized music video style animations, and scrolling music notation. During breaks, they also featured an audience kiss cam reminiscent of sports arenas, as well as a mustache cam and one for “this guy plays disc golf.”

If you are at all familiar with Cory Wong, you’ll know that he’s curated a somewhat unserious persona including comedic bits that complement his musical talent. After a dramatic musical finish, he followed up his set with a “press conference” with the whole band on stage during which he went over all of the “mistakes” they made that night and took questions from the audience for about 15 minutes. Original elements like this make Wong’s shows really stand out as unique experiences. He concluded the evening with a couple more high-energy encore songs, and it is safe to say that the audience was beyond satisfied with the show.

Concert Review: Dawes’ Oh Brother

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On Saturday, November 16th, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend Dawes’ Oh Brother tour at The Salt Shed.  The folk and indie infused rock band has been a touring group since 2009, and their appearance in Chicago this past weekend marked the group’s largest show in the city to date. This is the group’s first tour since amicably parting ways with members Wylie Gelber (bass) and Lee Pardini (piano), leaving brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith as the only remaining members of the group, and thus, the genesis of the album and tour’s name.

Joined by opening act and frequent collaborator, the Winnetka Bowling League, the evening was full of classics and new favorites, in a fast-paced, yet sentimental show. The setlist was a considerate tour of their discography, and to a long-time listener, felt similar to taking someone on a tour of your hometown, showing them all your favorite places and reminiscing on all of the memories you made at each stop. I have been a loyal Dawes fan for about as long as I can remember, and I have developed a unique attachment to many of their songs, but given the group’s tendency to never repeat the same setlist, it is rare that a listener like myself could hear all of their favorite songs in one night. This show was one of those rare instances, where my ideal setlist aligned with what Taylor and Griffin were thinking as well, making for an especially enjoyable experience.

The band highlighted the majority of their latest album, Oh Brother, including singles “House Parties” and “Surprise!,” working in the new material with years-old favorites like “Things Happen” and “When the Tequila Runs Out” seamlessly. This show was just the eighth stop of a 35-show tour, with shows spanning into next April (with a break between January and April). For still being relatively early into this leg of the tour, the band had already found a noticeable groove, with thoughtful connections on solos and instrumental breaks. Despite their recent change in personnel, the group exhibited the same creative lyricism and genre-twisting instrumentals that fans have come to love, which was also paralleled on the stage.

Dawes’ performance at The Salt Shed was an engaging culmination of the group’s winding history, and one that certainly marked an X on the map of the direction the band is headed. When bands go on tour for the purpose of putting on a great show, the crowd can feel it, and this performance was a perfect display of that passion. Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith have put together another thoughtful body of work in their latest album Oh Brother, and this tour is the perfect accompaniment to that composition. And, by continuing on with just the Goldsmith brothers, Dawes has made sure to fulfill their wish to listeners as written in a 2015 song: “May all your favorite bands stay together.”

Tycho’s Electronic Haven

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CHICAGO | On Friday, November 15th, I saw electronic artist, Tycho, at the Salt Shed. Despite missing most of the first opening set at the Salt Shed, I am glad I caught the last song of the first opener, Brijean. Over a groovy electronic beat, the Los Angeles duo had a mesmerizing performance of live bongos (a first for me!). 

Immediately after, it was time for Salt Shed to transform into a lively electronic club. With only the turntables and flashing moody lights, electronic DJ Pluko let the music speak for itself. People trickled in to form a packed GA section. I enjoyed watching from the seated section above the GA section, watching hundreds of bodies sway aimlessly back and forth to the music. 

As the set progressed, the bass got louder and louder with every beat drop. You could feel the energy spreading in your body. My favorite part of the set was when he remixed the legendary MGMT song “Kids” with SOPHIE-style hyperpop laser sounds, ultimately manipulating it to be a dark dance heater. After 30 minutes, Pluko hopped on the mic to greet Chicago and show love for Tycho. 

Pluko’s last few songs paid homage to classic EDM with a modern twist, remixing angelic vocals into energetic bangers. His closing song “Runaway” was a dance-worthy electronic song reminiscent of his entire set— upbeat tempos mixed with clear, fitting samples.

The stage crew swiftly disassembled the mountain of equipment left on the stage, while a buzz of anticipation filled the air for Tycho. A few minutes after 10 pm, Tycho came on with force. A disco ball illuminated the now fully packed Salt Shed while Tycho and his band blasted their artful music. It was my first time seeing electronic music performed with live drums, keyboard, and guitar, and it was riveting.

The entire show was filled with fun, playful visuals that paired with the music perfectly. Whoever created them deserves a raise! After playing a few songs, Tycho hopped on the mic to express his gratitude to the fans.

I learned the band took a hiatus from touring and this show was one of their first tours back performing. The house lights came on and Tycho was taken aback by the turnout, sharing “This is crazy” at his first clear view of the crowd.

As his performance continued, the crisp instrumentals married with the emotional electronic music, tugging on a distant feeling of belonging. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the concert and cannot wait to dive into their discography over the upcoming winter break.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Salt Shed

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On November 8th, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the Montreal instrumental post-rock group, took the stage at Salt Shed to play their biggest Chicago show yet. Godspeed You! has made a legendary career of playing immaculately constructed drones that resemble classical pieces with a sense of doom. Godspeed has always centered its sound around being as apocalyptic as possible, focusing thematically on the prison complex, failures of industrialism/capitalism, and atrocities of world government. Their 2024 album No Title as of 13 February 28,340 Dead focuses their doom energy around spreading awareness of what the civilians in Palestine are experiencing. On this latest album, GY!BE sounds as fresh as ever constructing the instrumental doom around an urgent issue and releasing an important piece of music that is worth a thousand words without speaking any.

I had seen Godspeed twice before, once at Thalia Hall which was off of their 2021 album G_D’s Pee At State’s End, and then at 2023’s edition of Riot Fest. The 2024 Salt Shed show had the biggest showing of the three shows, and election-related dread likely contributed to the packed turnout.

Alan Sparhawk, former member of the legendary indie outfit Low, opened the show, and Godspeed took the stage at 9:00pm sharp. The band included three guitarists, an upright bass player, two drummers, a violin player, and a keyboardist. They started off with their 2021 song “Hope Drone.”

The lead musician in the band, Efrim Menuck, was the main guitarist powering their drones. Efrim’s guitar fills every room he plays in with beauty and grace but also with the progressive feeling of dread and doom that the band is known for. Efrim and crew’s ability to balance the beauty with the apocalyptic is unlike any other band and a testament to the talent of the seven musicians.

Godspeed’s setlist continued with songs from their newest album like “Raindrops Cast In Lead” and “Pale Spectator,” two 10+ minute songs that capture the unspeakable horror of overseas atrocities with a somber reckoning. “Raindrops Cast in Lead” sounds like a dying machine coming to its last breath, a thematic rhythm Godspeed is consistent with. The songs off of their new record fit well into their setlists, delivering a new excitement to their musical range with brand-new beautiful arrangements. Godspeed ended their set with a special shoutout to their 1999 EP Slow Riot For Zero Kanada with the songs “Moya” and “BBF3.”

As a longtime Godspeed vinyl collector, I was really excited to see the songs from this EP played live as the vinyl for Slow Riot is one of my favorites. The EP is a great starting point into the band’s intimidating discography, delivering two beautiful and heart-wrenching tracks in only 20 minutes. BBF3 was amazing to hear live as its sample comes from a street interview with an American obsessed with his gun collection and discussing his issues with the judicial court system. BBF3 is haunting as it leads into soaring guitar sections.

Godspeed’s meditative music delivered a moment of reprieve for many at the Salt Shed.

Concert Review: Orchid

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On November 9th of 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to see Orchid, one of the most influential screamo bands of all time, as a part of their “Doom Loop World Tour.” As a huge fan of screamo and anything adjacent, I could hardly contain my excitement, with this being Orchid’s first tour since 2002. Though I wasn’t familiar with all of Orchid’s discography, my anticipation had been building for weeks and I could not wait for the night to arrive.

The first band that played that night was Cloud Rat, a grindcore band from Michigan. I was thrilled to see them open for Orchid, having first caught their set a few years ago in Carrboro, North Carolina, where they opened for Soul Glo. I loved their performance then and now, with their song “Faster” staying in my rotation ever since. Their sound is everything I love about grindcore, having plenty of fast, heavy, and intense riffs throughout. Each member had incredible skill, with great guitar riffs, precise and loud drums, and a vocalist who tied it all together beautifully.

Up next was The Repos, an older local Chicago punk band that has been around for years. They perfectly embodied what you would expect from a local punk band, with most of their songs clocking in under a minute while delivering a fast and punchy sound. While I came into the show unsure of what to expect due to their lack of social media presence or information online, I was anything but disappointed. The crowd cheered for an encore leaving everybody wanting more, but the set was sealed off with the vocalist fist-bumping the drummer before walking off stage.

Next up was Orchid, with their set being nothing short of amazing. They kicked things off with a theatrical intro, featuring cinematic sound effects and a custom graphic designed for their tour, which had the crowd cheering in excitement. These details only helped amplify how surreal this night was, as it finally sank in that I was about to see Orchid perform live, 22 years since they were last together. From the moment they hit the stage, it was clear that Orchid still had their charm and energy. The songs sounded just like the recorded versions but better, which is impressive considering that this is the band’s first tour since 2002. One of the most memorable moments of the night came when they played “Lights Out”. As the opening chords of the bass rang out, the crowd began chanting the introduction in perfect sync of the vocalist, who held his hands up in the air in anticipation for the song to begin. 

I absolutely loved their overall stage design and presence, with stunning projections that helped create an immersive atmosphere for the show. Vocalist Jayson Green walked all around the stage during the show, engaging with the crowd adding a layer of excitement to the performance. For a majority of their set, they projected an image from their iconic 1999 album “Chaos is Me”, featuring a drawing of a skeleton. The combination of their stage design, stage presence, and the energy of the night was all but enough to create an unforgettable experience of being able to see one of the most influential screamo bands of all time.  If you haven’t heard of Orchid or experienced them live, I highly recommend catching them at one of their stops on their ongoing “Doom Loop World Tour.”