Venue:
Humboldt Park (3/6):
I’ve been to a verity of outdoor venues and temporary
venues. This venue was not very well organized-- the stages were nearly on top
of each other. The map was disorganized as well. The stages were also too small
for the popularity of the bands performing and the screens were not quite high
up enough to be seen further back. It was also verbally inaccessible without a
car especially given the fact that it was very close to a rougher area and the
only way to get back to the El, let alone downtown, was an odd buss line. It
was not somewhere I would stage a festival. That being said, the lineup was
phenomenal bringing in artists in the punk and post punk vein with a verity of
degrees of fame. I was only there part of the day, but what I did catch was a
lot of fun.
Coheed and Cambria (5/6): Coheed and Cambria always puts on
one of the best shows I’ve seen. With stunning, distinctive vocals, and a
striking stage presence, front man Claudio Sanchez is a force all on his own.
He also brings stunning guitar work and a maniacal grin to the set.
The guitarist was also spectacular, keeping up and matching
Sanchez’s artistry flawlessly. And the new drummer is exquisite-- I actually
find his work better than their previous drummer-- presses yet quick to
improvise a solo if necessary.
While this was a mere hour-long set, Coheed was immaculately
on top of their game, coordinated and a joy to watch.
The end of the show was something to see, Sanchez leapt into
the au dance and played amongst the fans in the front row, then literally
vanished. The band kept playing; seeming a little confused at his disappearance
but eventually left the stage. It was quite the trick.
In short, these guys are unparalleled musically.
Rise Against (4/6): While not comparable to their previous
show at the UIC Pavilion, Rise Against puts on a sincere, energetic show that
still remains in my top ten. From a content standpoint, they manage to balance
their very strong political and personal belief with musicality and strong
lyrics that do not bash the listener over the head. Vocalist Tim McIlrath is
articulate, passionate and respects those that came before him musically. Simultaneously,
full of conviction and humble McIlrath is a wonderful performer.
And that’s just the front man.
In true punk fashion their music is honed to a specific
effect-- To inspire change. Whether it be a slow, thoughtful song or a riotous
motivational song, Rise Against has both a brilliant amount of energy and a
degree of cohesion not found often in modern punk. It was a wonderful show. And there was no
question how much the abundance was into it. These guys really know how to get
the audience pumped. Even in a short, outdoor set it was a wild crowd. It left
me feeling more alive than ever.
Wonderful show.
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