Editors
Sept. 11, 2007
Park West, Chicago
@@@1/2
I'm always a bit unsure when I'm reviewing concerts, especially by artists with whom I don't go all that far back, how much I'm supposed to critique the merit of the band's material vs. the performance of the material. For instance, Editors probably delivered a show drawn from their 2 albums as well as I could have have wanted, yet while I find them a substantive band, something about most of their songs leaves me unexcited. They have a few really good songs; the rest are okay, but sound a lot like lesser versions of the really good ones. They reminded me a bit of Coldplay, who isn't among my utmost favorites, and Editors have a long way to go to be that good. Their performance was strong, probably @@@@, but their music at this point only rates a @@@, thus the @@@1/2 review. Getting just @@1/2 is Biffy Clyro, who preceded Editors (an American band called Ra Ra Riot opened the show). I actually knew and liked much of Biffy Clyro's current album, Puzzle, but live they were a bit rougher around the edges and looked too much like Spinal Tap. At times, they were impressively forceful, but overall nothing too special live.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Concert Review: Bloc Party
Bloc Party
Friday, Sept. 7, 2007
Hideout Block Party, Chicago
@@@@
Bloc Party is an interesting, sonically unique British band. They headlined the Friday session of the Hideout's Block Party in Chicago, with Scotland's The Cinematics opening the night. Bloc Party performed strong, well-received renditions of their songs, with of course, some being better than others. Like most bands of their ilk, particularly in a festival setting, they played about 75 minutes, and their best songs: Like Eating Glass, Helicopter, Banquet, I Still Remember among them, were really good. The Cinematics are likely destined to be an also-ran band, but they were tunefully enjoyable as well, and pretty affable about a late-start due to rain and some technical issues. I'd give their set @@@.
Friday, Sept. 7, 2007
Hideout Block Party, Chicago
@@@@
Bloc Party is an interesting, sonically unique British band. They headlined the Friday session of the Hideout's Block Party in Chicago, with Scotland's The Cinematics opening the night. Bloc Party performed strong, well-received renditions of their songs, with of course, some being better than others. Like most bands of their ilk, particularly in a festival setting, they played about 75 minutes, and their best songs: Like Eating Glass, Helicopter, Banquet, I Still Remember among them, were really good. The Cinematics are likely destined to be an also-ran band, but they were tunefully enjoyable as well, and pretty affable about a late-start due to rain and some technical issues. I'd give their set @@@.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Concert Review: The Cribs
The Cribs
August 5, 2007
Lollapalooza
@@@
The Cribs were the first band I saw at Lollapalooza and the only noteworthy Britpop act I caught (I did see Paolo Nutini and wasn't greatly impressed). It was cool to hear their catchy Our Bovine Public ringing out as I walked through Grant Park for a closer view of what turned out to be a surprisingly solid, at times stellar, 50-minute performance. I only have the latest of their 3 albums and would call it decent, but not the best of current Britpop, though I know they are getting some acclaim back home. Comprised of three brothers from Yorkshire, England, who spent some time recording in Chicago (which explains singer/guitarist Ryan Jarman's reference to living on Kedzie Avenue), the Cribs weren't the day's highlight, but justified my getting there at 12:30. I'm not sure why they have such bad haircuts (at least 2 of the 3 brothers were oddly coifed), but their music is a cut above.
August 5, 2007
Lollapalooza
@@@
The Cribs were the first band I saw at Lollapalooza and the only noteworthy Britpop act I caught (I did see Paolo Nutini and wasn't greatly impressed). It was cool to hear their catchy Our Bovine Public ringing out as I walked through Grant Park for a closer view of what turned out to be a surprisingly solid, at times stellar, 50-minute performance. I only have the latest of their 3 albums and would call it decent, but not the best of current Britpop, though I know they are getting some acclaim back home. Comprised of three brothers from Yorkshire, England, who spent some time recording in Chicago (which explains singer/guitarist Ryan Jarman's reference to living on Kedzie Avenue), the Cribs weren't the day's highlight, but justified my getting there at 12:30. I'm not sure why they have such bad haircuts (at least 2 of the 3 brothers were oddly coifed), but their music is a cut above.
Concert Review: The Automatic
The Automatic
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Subterranean
Chicago, IL
@@@@
I opted to see the Automatic (or as they were billed in America, The Automatic Automatic, due to some nebulous name conflict) in a late night, $10 show largely because I really liked two of their songs, Raoul and Monster, off their otherwise OK but not phenomenal album, Not Accepted Anywhere. And from their All Music Guide capsule, I'd envisioned them to be arty, if not somewhat dorky. But I was pleasantly surprised with how good, and mostly straightforward they were. Their singer/bassist was a large, affable kid named Robin Hawkins who wasn't at all what I expected, though they did have a hyperkinetic keyboardist, Alex Pennie, to provide a bit of what I did expect. Anyway, they were much more of a straightforward, rock band who made the songs sound better than they did on the album and really impressed me beyond their two best songs (solid hits in the UK). They only played 45 minutes to less then 50 people, but those there wanted more so it was a bit disappointing that they didn't play an encore to really end the night right.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Subterranean
Chicago, IL
@@@@
I opted to see the Automatic (or as they were billed in America, The Automatic Automatic, due to some nebulous name conflict) in a late night, $10 show largely because I really liked two of their songs, Raoul and Monster, off their otherwise OK but not phenomenal album, Not Accepted Anywhere. And from their All Music Guide capsule, I'd envisioned them to be arty, if not somewhat dorky. But I was pleasantly surprised with how good, and mostly straightforward they were. Their singer/bassist was a large, affable kid named Robin Hawkins who wasn't at all what I expected, though they did have a hyperkinetic keyboardist, Alex Pennie, to provide a bit of what I did expect. Anyway, they were much more of a straightforward, rock band who made the songs sound better than they did on the album and really impressed me beyond their two best songs (solid hits in the UK). They only played 45 minutes to less then 50 people, but those there wanted more so it was a bit disappointing that they didn't play an encore to really end the night right.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Concert Review: The Fratellis
The Fratellis
Switches
Dappled Cities
Mon., July 30, 2007
Pabst Theatre
Milwaukee, WI
@@@@1/2
If you haven't gotten the point yet, I love the new wave of music coming from the British isles. Practically every week, I discover new music from previously unknown bands (The Enemy, The Pigeon Detectives, The Maccabees being among the latest) that I think is wonderful. And even driving up to Milwaukee on a work night, and barely staying awake on the drive home, was completely worth it. Not only for the amazing Fratellis, who despite not being great showmen and not quite replicating the great sound & vocals of their debut album (Costello Music) live, have enough great songs from just one album that they were phenomenal anyway. But I got there, starving, and finding no food at the venue, just in time to hear the opening band, who I thought were the Switches. I thought they were really good, and it turns out the first band was a pre-opening act, an oddly named band called Dappled Cities. Next up were Switches, who were wonderful (I'd never heard any music from either of these acts previously, and it was instantly accessible). Both were from England. And then the Fratellis. So 3 hours of great music for just $10.
Switches
Dappled Cities
Mon., July 30, 2007
Pabst Theatre
Milwaukee, WI
@@@@1/2
If you haven't gotten the point yet, I love the new wave of music coming from the British isles. Practically every week, I discover new music from previously unknown bands (The Enemy, The Pigeon Detectives, The Maccabees being among the latest) that I think is wonderful. And even driving up to Milwaukee on a work night, and barely staying awake on the drive home, was completely worth it. Not only for the amazing Fratellis, who despite not being great showmen and not quite replicating the great sound & vocals of their debut album (Costello Music) live, have enough great songs from just one album that they were phenomenal anyway. But I got there, starving, and finding no food at the venue, just in time to hear the opening band, who I thought were the Switches. I thought they were really good, and it turns out the first band was a pre-opening act, an oddly named band called Dappled Cities. Next up were Switches, who were wonderful (I'd never heard any music from either of these acts previously, and it was instantly accessible). Both were from England. And then the Fratellis. So 3 hours of great music for just $10.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Concert Review: Maximo Park
Maximo Park
July 16, 2007
Double Door - Chicago
@@@@
I’m not sure how many things can count as “one of the best,” but without getting too analytical about it, Maximo Park are clearly one of the best of the current wave of Britpop bands. Their 2005 debut album, “A Certain Trigger” is one of my favorite albums of the last few years, and though their newest disc, “Our Earthly Pleasures” isn’t as great, it’s still quite enjoyable.
With their music being more angular and quirky than rousing and anthemic, their live performance proved to be similarly more enjoyable than spectacular. But they have a boatload of good songs, a few great ones and an affable lead singer in Paul Smith. Throw in two good opening bands – The Oohlas and Monsters Are Waiting, both female-fronted American bands I hadn’t previously heard of – and a place to sit at the Double Door, and I really have nothing to complain about. So I guess that makes for a @@@@ show.
July 16, 2007
Double Door - Chicago
@@@@
I’m not sure how many things can count as “one of the best,” but without getting too analytical about it, Maximo Park are clearly one of the best of the current wave of Britpop bands. Their 2005 debut album, “A Certain Trigger” is one of my favorite albums of the last few years, and though their newest disc, “Our Earthly Pleasures” isn’t as great, it’s still quite enjoyable.
With their music being more angular and quirky than rousing and anthemic, their live performance proved to be similarly more enjoyable than spectacular. But they have a boatload of good songs, a few great ones and an affable lead singer in Paul Smith. Throw in two good opening bands – The Oohlas and Monsters Are Waiting, both female-fronted American bands I hadn’t previously heard of – and a place to sit at the Double Door, and I really have nothing to complain about. So I guess that makes for a @@@@ show.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Concert Review: Keane
Keane
May 17, 2007
Riviera Theatre - Chicago
@@@1/2
Keane is a decent band from England that forges a good sound without any guitars or bass, just two keyboardists -- one being vocalist Tom Chaplin -- and a drummer. Their two albums both hit #1 in the UK and their latest, last year's Under the Iron Sea opened at #4 in the US, so they arrived at their sold out show at the Riviera with a good bit of stateside renown. They were originally booked -- and then rebooked and again cancelled -- for a show at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre last fall, on tours that feel through due to Chaplin's rehab stint. Led by the ruddy-faced Chaplin, an energetic and gracious though less than captivating stage presence, the band played fine but largely unspectacular renditions of good but mostly not great songs, which were met with ovations far beyond their merit. It's probably wrong to hold crowd reaction against a band, but this was the loudest I've heard a crowd in quite some time. BS or not, Chaplin told the crowd it was "a night he would never forget." But though worthy of a look and listen, Keane at this point are far from unforgettable.
May 17, 2007
Riviera Theatre - Chicago
@@@1/2
Keane is a decent band from England that forges a good sound without any guitars or bass, just two keyboardists -- one being vocalist Tom Chaplin -- and a drummer. Their two albums both hit #1 in the UK and their latest, last year's Under the Iron Sea opened at #4 in the US, so they arrived at their sold out show at the Riviera with a good bit of stateside renown. They were originally booked -- and then rebooked and again cancelled -- for a show at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre last fall, on tours that feel through due to Chaplin's rehab stint. Led by the ruddy-faced Chaplin, an energetic and gracious though less than captivating stage presence, the band played fine but largely unspectacular renditions of good but mostly not great songs, which were met with ovations far beyond their merit. It's probably wrong to hold crowd reaction against a band, but this was the loudest I've heard a crowd in quite some time. BS or not, Chaplin told the crowd it was "a night he would never forget." But though worthy of a look and listen, Keane at this point are far from unforgettable.
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