BVaz Reports: September Concert Breakdown
Posted October 2nd, 2007 · Artists: Bloc Party, Editors, Peter Bjorn and John, The National, VHS or Beta
Well September has been quite a month for seeing shows. Of course we saw the end of the festival season with ACL a couple of weeks ago, as well as Snoop Dogg and the Shins at the Download Festival, but these were not the only things going on this month. There were some great Chicago shows in September outside of the big events and here is a wrap up of the best and the worst from September, as well as a look ahead at October.
VHS or Beta – Subterranean
I hadn’t really heard too much of VHS or Beta before I decided to go to this show, but just before the show their new album “Bring On The Comets” had just been released and I had picked that up and been quite impressed. They put on a great show, albeit a little short I think. The new album has some great songs and they basically played mostly from that album, with a few songs from their previous album “Night on Fire”. They started as a dance/rock band and have transitioned moreso into a more traditional sounding band, and it really pays off. The show was awesome, and everyone was dancing, but the one drawback was that it was basically the hottest concert ever (temperature-wise). It wasn’t really that hot outside but there was no A/C on inside at all and everyone was dancing and moving so it was a total sweatbox. But we didn’t let that bring us down, we kept dancing. Naturally.
Bloc Party – Hideout Block Party
Ahh, bloc party. Always a good time. Always rocking. They are always awesome, see previous discussion from ACL, and here was no different. The only drawback is that because this was technically a ‘festival’ they played a shortened set, but despite that it was still awesome. Bloc Party is always great to see and if you haven’t seen them yet, do so. You won’t be disappointed. They of course hit all the classics of “This Modern Love”, “So Here We Are”, “Like Eating Glass” as well as the new classics like “Uniform” and “Song For Clay”. Here’s hoping they have one more US tour in them for 2007.
Editors – Park West
I wasn’t super-familiar with their work, but I was just in a mood to go to a show and I had heard they were good, so I went. The band was fine, they put on a pretty good show, maybe not the greatest ever, but still not bad. The problem with this show was the venue. It sux0r3d. It had this gross rubber paneling on the floor that smelled like a dirty strip club or a shit-covered baby. Also 50% of the audience was seated and 50% was standing, and they were all intermixed in the middle of the room. Also the lighting guys had the stage lights set up to basically blind the audience every chance that they got. Worst. Venue. Ever. I will not go back to this place unless I absolutely have to. Aside from that though, the Editors made a valiant effort to overcome the horrendous surroundings.
The National – Vic Theater
Awesome. I had seen them 6 days earlier at ACL and they were great there and they were great here as well. They really put on an awesome show once again and the Vic is a pretty cool little venue. The only problem is I didn’t get there early enough and when crowded the stage can be a little tough to see if you are in the back. So aside from getting screwed on where I was standing initially, I wedged myself around and found a good spot for rocking. They played a great mix of Alligator and Boxer, and they are way more energetic and rocking live than I would have expected from their records. I recommend checking them out for sure.
Peter Bjorn and John – Vic Theater
Well I returned to the Vic Theater to check out Peter Bjorn and John after The National. It was not nearly as crowded as The National so I was able to see perfectly. Now Peter Bjorn and John I had not really listened to much, and they played at ACL but we didn’t get there in time to check them out. Anyway, I saw they were coming so I started looking around for some clips online, and it is generally kind of very catchy new wave Swedish kind of stuff. So I looked for some Youtube videos of them live, and I noticed they seemed to be way into rocking out and getting into their performances, unlike their music would suggest. So I was intrigued and decided to go check it out. Awesome. I don’t have any of their albums or anything yet, but the songs I recognized they really rocked them out. It is just a 3 piece band, and they are all jumping all over the stage and pointing at the crowd and everything. I am really glad I went to this show because they were really good live, and not at all what you would expect from their studio material. They just rock out. So I recommend checking these guys out as well if you get a chance.
October Upcoming Shows of Note
Of Montreal – Metro – October 6, 2007
Interpol – Aragon – October 11, 2007
New Pornographers – Metro – October 18, 2007
Hold Steady – Metro – October 31, 2007
