When the Sky is Full of 0’s and 1’s
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I usally only check the chicago reader page on weds/thurs to see if there are any new early warnings for shows that I should buy tickets for. Haveing done that and seeing that the Kings of Convenience have a Tues show at the Double Door that we decided to take a pass on, being a school night and all. Compounded that with the fact that the show was a bit pricey and had an opener that I didnt care to see. But, out of bordom on sunday night I poked around to the reader page and to my surprise a last minute show for monday at schubas had been added to satisfy those to young and/or slow in purcasing tickets to the Double Door show (which had sold out a week prior and is 21+). I jumped at the chance. Why? Monday night is the worst of all school nights, and werent the tickets still like $15 bucks? Yes, but it was for 1 hr of the Kings of Convenience, with 200 other ppl who are just as super-nerdy/devoted as me, thus assuring a quiet and blissful set. Also, it was an early show, squeezed in before a later show that was already booked, giving me a good reason to ditch work early and getting us home with plenty of time to eat and be in bed at a reasonable hour.

The show it self was amazing, those 2 are a present day Simon & Gar. Even though their songs rarley touch on any over-reaching political message, with album titles such as “Quiet is the New Loud” and “Riot on an Empty Street” this is music that is great for those gray and cold winter days. Live it was the 2 of them, each with an acoustic guitar, with some songs where one would sit behind the piano. According to them this show was double special, being that it was the smallest show on the tour and the only venue that had a real piano (according to them they usally use an electric keyboard). Between the songs they were very loose, joking with the crowd and each other. When they would discuss with each other they would speak in their native language which was funny, becuase they didnt want us to hear them argue about what song to play next. In some ways I was glad I waited and saw them at a much smaller and better venue, but now that I know not to pass them up again.

One great band and one band made from a member of another great band. Both from Canada and both super-liberal. But, they put on a great show and make some amazing pop albums.

Apostle of Hustle opened up and they were a little better then last time I saw them (which was opening for Luna @ The Abbey). The set always starts off strong, good hooks, swinging drums and lots of guitar build-up, but one soon realizes that he writes the same song over and over again. In some way they seem like a more “hip” Dave Mattews Band. Not that they are really a “jam” band but their songs dont seem to go anywhere. The girl on keyboards did tap dance for a few of the songs, which was kind of neat to see, but not really fitting for a rock band.

Stars were simply amazing. I haven’t seen them in over 2 years, which was about the time “Nightsongs” came out here. They were really good then and have only gotten better. Since then 2 albums and an EP have been released, all of which are full of densely layered, love-lorn love-lost, secretly erotica and bitterly sinsere pop songs. Where the albums have delicate touches of keyboards, horns and drum-machines, their live set is loud and powerful. Amy along with bass player Evan came out dressed in a black leather jackets, very rock star like, while Torquil donned a pale blue sport coat and a multicoloured handkerchief. This gives one a sense of context about the band, a struggle between just rocking out and singing sweet love ballads. The harmonies between Amy and Torquil were spot-on, and the band was tight and appeared to be having as good of a time on stage as we were in the audiance. After a 2 song encore, Torquil and keyboard player Chris closed with a beautiful perfomance of Tonight from “Nightsongs” which turns out to be the first song they wrote together. Can’t wait until they come around these parts again.