Our (fairly) regular roundup of Music & Arts related news from Chicago-based web media, featuring thoughts and insight from some of the city’s most dedicated writers.
- Arctic Monkeys Show That They Wanna Be Ours
The Riviera Theater saw a full house on Monday evening; edges of the venue were packed to the brim with attendees looking to catch a glimpse of Arctic Monkeys. The evening brought about two hours of unabashed, daring rock n’ roll that surely kept everyone on their toes; literally, as everyone in the venue was up standing, swaying and dancing to the music.
Twin Peaks opened the show; though not necessarily my cup of tea, their fuzzy garage rock style kept everyone’s attention. Lead singer Cadien commanded the stage with energy and unapologetic sass. They played material off of their first full-length album released this year, Sunken, and while keeping the energy high throughout the duration of the set, proved that they are going to be a force to watch in the next few years. Emphasizing their youth, they brought energy to the stage with their carefree, laidback dynamics throughout their set.
The crowd became even more packed prior to Arctic Monkeys start time, with anticipation filling the air. All of a sudden, smoke rose out from the sides of the stage, and a purple light intermingling with quite a few strobe lights started their slightly dramatic entrance. However, it wasn’t too showy. It built up just the right amount of excitement for a group that has been around for quite some time. Their recorded material was first released in 2005, and never once have they wavered from their signature sound: dynamic vocals juxtaposed against a backdrop of rhythmic, steady rock, sometimes dark, sometimes a bit more poppy sounding, however always reflecting the image the group wants to maintain.
The 0114 on Matt Elders drums showed their allegiance to their home, Sheffield. It’s clear that as they’ve matured as a group and taken their sound in many different directions, they’ve never lost sight of their roots, not only in their personal lives, but in their sound, as well. The set weaved through newer and older material, presenting loyal listeners with a nice blend of the Monkeys’ catalogue. Opening with “Do I Wanna Know” the group commanded the attention of audience members from the very start. They were easily able to move back and forth between more peppy and upbeat material, such as “Dancing Shoes”, and transition easily into darker material, such as “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” immediately following, without skipping one beat.
They presented listeners with many tracks off of their recently released full-length album, AM, such as “Arabella”, “No. 1 Party Anthem”, and “Knee Socks”, but didn’t ignore crowd favorites such as “Fluorescent Adolescent” or “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.” Maintaining their roots and acknowledging what hooked their listeners in the first place kept the crowd happy and satisfied with their setlist. Creating an acoustic pocket within their set, one of the most notable moments during the concert was when lead singer Alex Turner’s crystal clear voice rang out for a completely acoustic version of “Cornerstone”, a more intimate moment for the crowd to delight in as compared to their more bold sound choices.
At earlier Arctic Monkeys shows, Turner has always been more shy, and amazed by his level of fame. As he has grown within the group, he now emerges with extreme confidence, addressing the crowd as if we’re all old friends, dancing around the stage, and knowing how much fame he has acquired. Returning for an encore with a big grin and a wave to the crowd, the Monkeys finished off their set with “One For The Road”, “Do Me A Favour”, and “R U Mine?” I can confidently say that Arctic Monkeys showed that they want to remain a part of our lives, as they continue to create rock music that shakes it up and will always grow.
- Travis Standing Tall
Travis bafflingly never reached the heights of contemporaries like Coldplay or even Keane, though their history is rich with solid songs and plenty of hits. Fran Healy’s voice has been perfect for their sugary Britpop and they’ve consistently churned out earworming melodies. But alongside those sweet sounds have always been lyrics that can cut deep. On their latest album, Where You Stand, the Glaswegian band tackles subjects like their career trajectory, discovered affairs and how far you’ll go to show loyalty. And it’s all done with the aplomb of seasoned vets who’re comfortable in their role. Travis may not be pushing musical boundaries, but they know their fan base, understand how to use their strengths and are excelling at it.Travis headlines the Vic on Friday, the 27th. Luke Rathborne opens at 8PM. The show’s 18+ and $41. The Vic’s at 3145 N Sheffield.
- Disappears Mark New ‘Era’ With Stellar Record Release Show
With capable support from locals Outside World and Brooklyn’s moody quartet Weekend, Chicago’s Disappears tore through a set of their most experimental material to date last weekend at the gill-packed Empty Bottle. [ more › ]
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