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.
- Review/Photos: Divine Fits @ Logan Square Auditorium 10/25/12
It was definitely a dark and stormy Thursday night but though it may have been hailing outside, Logan Square Auditorium seemed rather warn and welcoming in comparison, especially because they were playing The Kinks as the house music before the bands (that always helps the mood.)
Fitting more with the weather, Cold Cave opened up with some dark songs that are too edgy and gothy to be pop but are also too catchy to really be true goth. The five piece played for about 45 minutes and made it easy to dance in the dark while they warmed up the audience.
And, though Cold Cave seemed to have a few things going for them, their performance paled in comparison to the Divine Fits supergroup. Even the mix was better for Divine Fits, with the vocals way more prominent than the previous band’s more washed out seeming/less distinctive lyrical delivery. It’s also quite a different sort of thing to see a band with such accomplished members as those that include Britt Daniel of Spoon combined with Dan Boeckner of Handsome Furs and Wolf Parade and see them live up to the sum of their parts.
What seemed really evident was the way in which Daniel and Boeckner alternated so well showcasing their unique talents between pedal effects, hook heavy rhythms, and energetic singing. The stage presence was both dynamic and balanced with the 60+ minute performance proving a memorable win. The drumming and keyboard playing were a great support but it was Daniel and Boeckner who really shone. Boeckner also continued to modestly thank everyone for coming to the show, which came off quite endearing. And, if our hearts weren’t broken enough by the fact that these two talented handsome men would inevitably be leaving our city soon, they threw in a Tom Petty cover of “You Got Lucky” just to really seal the deal.
It should also be mentioned, in terms of a performance, that despite a few technical difficulties Britt Daniel had from time to time with broken guitar strings, etc, he kept the flow going exceptionally well and seemed to be overall enjoying his time with Boeckner more than this writer/photographer has ever seen him enjoy any of his own Spoon shows over the past 8 years. His showmanship wasn’t lost but in addition, he seemed so incredibly comfortable, as if this was truly fun and all that other music was much more work for him. It just proves that when you work with people you really like and respect, you tend to enjoy that work more and thrive creatively. Divine Fits so far only have one album (A Thing Called Divine Fits) but hopefully they will have more to give the world in future days.
Setlist:
- Thursday Afternoon Diversion: Landslide
Today’s diversion will get you excited about the pending winter weather. [ more › ]
- Neon Marshmallow 2012 Lineup Announced: Thurston Moore, Trevor de Brauw, Guardian Alien
Neon Marshmallow Fest will return for its third year next month at The Burlington with a smaller but solid lineup [ more › ]
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