Chicago Tunes Posted by Eric
Posted Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
The White Mystery show, and the Netherfriends set before it, were I think my first times seeing Chicago-based bands performing outside city limits and, you know what, I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced such deep affinity for the music of my city. White Mystery played like they weren’t in the midst of a 70-some engagement tour in two months (they are), while Netherfriends totally surprised. Shawn Rosenblatt’s one-man project carried way more heft than I remember on recording, the recently released Middle America.
White Mystery plays this city all the time, and yet Monday was my first time seeing them live. I think I get it now. I like them a lot more up close than I do on record. And maybe that’s it: I had a hard time appreciating them the way I do now because I hadn’t yet seen them live. It’s a thing to be experienced.
You see, White Mystery plays what is maybe best described as the long song set. Tunes are strung out together, one directly after the other. No breaks. The casual listener, I presume, would think they were listening to a half-hour’s worth of garage rock medleys.
Alex introduced herself and her brother up front, said they were from Chicago and thenslam. We really didn’t hear from Alex again until her and Francis’ thick manes of red stopped swirling around. About the same time Alex got the jumping out of her system, and Francis decided he’d given his drum kit enough discipline.
I’m hardpressed to think they have the energy in ‘em to do this every time, but they must. As I wrote they’re playing an outstanding amount of shows this month and next, and yet Monday’s gig at a venue called Beerland made like their first show after a restorative hiatus. These kids are fun.
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