CONCERT REBREWS: I Fight Dragons, Flugel, August Hotel.

Hello! Zac here with another Concert ReBrew: a totally non-SEO-derived creative endeavor where we cover a show from some of our favorite Chicago musicians. We're always looking for new bands and creatives in the city of Chicago so if you or someone you know would like to come on our podcast or would like a Concert ReBrew of a  local show send us a message on our contact page or fill in the guest host submission form! Alright, let's get into the MEAT. (or tofu if you prefer that sorta thing)

Sarah had plans to see the Nutcracker the night of this show, what an exceptionally adult thing to do. Well done Sarah. So I was rolling with another friend for the evening who is also a musically-inclined person so it was very fun to grab their opinions and make jokes during the set. We had a blast. 

This concert ReBrew is on the I Fight Dragons, Flugel, and August Hotel show at Lincoln Hall on Dec 17, 2022 and was the 11 year Anniversary show for I Fight Dragons’ “KABOOM.”  Lincoln Hall is my FAVORITE mid-sized venue in Chicago, coming in realllll close to Tahlia Hall. LH has some of the best bands playing, and the sound is always top-notch. Their Sister company is the company Audiotree, which does live band recordings. And, if I’m not mistaken, they spend a lot of time and energy curating the best talent they can find to spend all the time and resources filming them. So I have an inkling that it probably helps a ton with always having amazing bands on their stages. This night was no exception. 

A fun thing we noticed when we got there early before the show started was that there were some really killer tunes playing over the house system. Stuff that just made ya wanna dance. We noticed looking into the sound booth from the balcony that the playlist was called “FUNKY AF.” It doesn't seem to be a public playlist, so if anybody from the band or Lincoln Hall is reading please make it public or send it to us. Please and thank you! 

Another quick fun antidote of the pre-show shenanigans: we were lucky enough to run into past guest hosts (and big sweethearts) Cale and Ryan from August Hotel. Both of them were all grins with excitement for this big show. We chatted for a good minute mostly about how crazy it was that The Royal Concept, the band Cale and Ryan covered on their episode of Album ReBrews, had shared the episode on their Instagram stories. Another fun moment, Possibly my favorite was when I was very kindly introduced to Cale’s wonderful wife. After a short greeting and Cale informing her I was from the podcast, she said something to the effect of “Ohhh I recognize your voice, AND I know your alcohol preference,” which gave me a big grin and a good chuckle. 

We make our way back up to our seats on the second floor. (life pro tip: this is the best way to watch the shows at Lincoln Hall.) August Hotel starts the show with “Disaster & Delight”  which is such a charming song, and a fun energetic opener. The tone choices on the synth and bass on the opening lick are god-tier tone choices. For a hint just go listen to the recorded version and then imagine it 10 times better because it’s live. The 3-person vocals on the chorus of this tune are ALSO fun and charming. So much love for it.

They transition into the 2nd song with a super tasty drum break in the tasty keyboard intro with the stage lights blacked out except for the glowing “A” logo that kinda felt transcendental. I think I saw God when this moment happened. I don’t know if this is a planned thing in their set, or if the lighting designer just really really hit the nail on the head here, but the auditory-visual experience at the moment was surreal. 

They start their 3rd song with the sexiest drum pad and the anticipation is building inside me. I immediately recognized it as their song “12AM” a very catchy synth-y poppy moody dreamy tune released in 2016 as a single. (A quick Zac Fun fact is I’ve actually been following August Hotel since about 2016 when I was but a bright-eyed music business student at Columbia College and I was looking around for cool local bands to get into. The dopamine rush of nostalgia on this track was palpable (like grab a bucket and a mop.) This point in the set really shined, the musicians were very warmed up and they were all performing so effortlessly, a really cool moment. Ryan Lammers's guitar solo on this track was so perfectly crafted. They are an Auditory Artesian, delicately crafting and placing each note as an emerald into the grooviest most articulate mosaic of major scales and perfectly placed pentatonic lines. 

Next up was Chicago Indie Pop Band, Flugel, and dang, did they come out kicking. Their first song came as an instinct tangible push in your chest on Lincoln Hall’s incredible sound system. The guitar tones and heavy drums slammed into you like a creamy heavy dreamy blanket that wraps you up and keeps you warm, like creamy oat milk in a latte with a flower done on it. (Man, I have been loving oat milk lately.) The 2nd tune gave us some more funky grooves and fun vibey stage presence. At this point, I noticed keyboard player Michael Grathwhold’s incredibly cool shirt. I thought perhaps it was dotted with jaguars, but later in the set, we learned Grathwholds’ nickname was “The Leopard” and I thought that was pretty cool and I hope there is a cool story behind that. 

A few songs brilliantly pass and the crowd is vibing and loving this set. We feel a quick lull between songs that is only tangible because of how much good energy this group brings while playing. To fill this lull drummer, Kyle Therriault brings us in with a very fun, very artificial, very sample-y, very cool clap sound on the drum pad, and the crowd claps along with it! And I thought “whoa, this drummer just reinvented the crowd clap-along.” 

We can’t talk about this set without talking about how cool it was for the lead guitar player of I Fight Dragons, Packy Lundholm, to come on stage to play a song with Flugel. The guitar tone Lundholm brought to this song was so gorgeous, and he even sang backup. The crowd got a really big kick out of the backup vocals, and an even bigger kick out of the guitar solo Lundholm goes into directly after. The guitar playing was super articulate with big jumps in intensity and emotion that put us on a rollercoaster that somehow goes up and up more than physics would allow. After the song, lead singer, Tommy Moore makes a comment to the effect of something like, “and we even got backups!” giving the impression that that wasn't even rehearsed or planned, which made the crowd reaction all that even more impressive and cool. 

Flugel finished up their (too short) opening set (I could have vibed with Flugel all night),  and after a brief intermission filled with vibey songs from the “FUNKY AF” playlist, I Fight Dragons started their set! There is a ton of fog on the stage from the hazers that make the Lincoln Hall lighting pop so beautifully. There is some sort of action theme song drifting through the fog as the drummer, Chad Van Dahm hits us with a pulsating drum beat. The guitar players parade onto the stage with their wireless guitars as the last member of the group walks up with a KEYTAR DUDE! First time seeing their set and so I had no idea what to expect but I was incredibly excited by this, and it was so cool! 

They started their set with the song “Don’t You,” the 11th track from their 2011 album and namesake for this concert, KABOOM. Lead singer, Brian Mazzaferri instructs us to party like it is indeed 2011, and we did in fact do that for the rest of the set. The combination of vintage gamer noises and hard-hitting rock and roll moved through the foggy ether of Lincoln Hall, and it hit me with a strange sentimentality for a song I had never heard before...

The nearly sold-out show of a crowd was eating this up. Folks for dancing and cheering and loving the performance. I take it that most of the crowd there that night had been fans since 2011, and you could tell they were having the best time. After a few songs, guitarist Lundholm brings out a very cute muppet baby keyboard and hits us with very fun electric melodies and it is sooo good. It’s obviously some sort of children's toy keyboard, but the Muppet baby keyboard went hard. I think you should add it to the instrumentation of your next album. 10 out of 10. 

This was a very fun set to watch as an outsider who wasn't that familiar with Chicago Band, I Fight Dragons. They seem to have a deep catalog and lots of touring customs they've established over the years that I’m not too familiar with, Like the annual tour Haiku. Which was a pleasure to see written live on stage. If I had to write on myself for the night I might say: 

The crowd was dancing

three bands make good notes all night  

The vibes were just right 

I like this exercise. remind me to do this next Concert ReBrew. 

All in all, a wonderful night, and I had the greatest time attending and writing this article.  The band played several more amazing songs, and we left just before the encore (sorry I Fight Dragons, we had work in the morning, and comedy podcasting doesn't pay like and used to), but we could tell it was an encore enjoyed by many of the faithful fans that night. 

Make sure to go check out I Fight Dragons, Flugel, and August Hotel wherever you get music, and if you're so inclined check out our recent episode with Cale and Ryan from August Hotel. It’s an especially wholesome episode. Thanks for reading and we’ll see ya next time. Cheers, Dears! 

CONCERT REBREWS: TOKYO SAYONARA, BUENA CARA, SAFE BET, NORTHBOUND, RARE CANDY @ JJ’S BAR AND GRILL

Folks, for the first time ever, Concert ReBrews crosses state lines! This time, Sarah trekked up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, accompanied by podcast editor extraordinaire Cameron Bopp, sister extraordinaire Lindsey, and friend extraordinaire Kassie Cvikel to the storied DIY space JJ’s Bar and Grill - part of The Basement Collective. Many a Midwest emo legend has passed through this iconic basement since JJ Kaiser started booking shows in 2016.

Opening the show is a dear friend of the pod, Tokyo Sayonara (a.k.a. Seth Kaplan) making his solo debut. Have you ever heard of a Tokyo Sayonara? It’s like an Irish Goodbye, but you only say goodbye to the cat when you leave a party. Iconic. Tokyo Sayonara’s set was like a perfect roll of toilet paper, simultaneously soft and strong. Kaplan beautifully marries tender lyrics with meditative guitar riffs - a highlight of the set being “mars and cupid” an angry song he wrote in high school even though “[he] wasn’t really an angry person.” Talking about nosebleeds and how “fucking deceiving” people can be certainly paints the picture! Here at Album ReBrews headquarters, we can’t wait to see what comes next from Tokyo Sayonara. He can leave my party and only say goodbye to my cat any time.

Typically a three-piece, Milwaukee emo band Buena Cara was represented by singer and guitarist Ricky Bravo in a stripped-down solo set. Rickey’s powerful vocals and down-to-earth lyrics paired with tippity-tappity guitar drew the audience in, waiting with bated breath for whatever would come next. Songs like “Hey Bud” and “Security Cameras” painted pictures of young adult loneliness, self-sabotage, and finding yourself. “Was I your best friend / or just the means to an end?” YOW! We were also treated to a cover of Andrew Jackson Jihad’s “Love In The Time of Human Papilloma Virus,” nestled into the set - a bittersweet little treat. Despite a surprise broken guitar string, Rickey’s performance was simultaneously heartfelt and heartbreaking.

Armored with wit, fresh guitar strings, and a drum kit was our next act, Safe Bet! This project from just outside of Chicago performed as a two-piece tonight. Really though, do you need much more than a guitar and drum kit for a basement gig? Frontman Gino Savarino played licks that made me bob my head and belted out lyrics that made my heart go “OUCH!” The first few songs were followed by some good ol’ fashioned guitar tuning banter, lamenting about Chicago parking tickets, sharing favorite Pokemon, and shouting out Brady on the drums (thanks Brady!) “Blue” and “Figure This Out” were a few personal favorites from this set, would sincerely recommend getting in your feelings to some Safe Bet. 

Making his debut in Wisconsin is Florida’s Jonathan Fraser, the man, myth, and legend behind Northbound. In true Wisconsin fashion, Fraser snacked on some dill and garlic cheese before his set, the only true way to prepare for a gig. Opting to go mic-free, there was no shortage of power in this acoustic set. The room was immediately enveloped in relatable lyrics with commanding delivery - at times belting to the point of an emotionally-charged vocal break. Nestled into the set was a new song, “Baby’s Breath,” to be featured on a future Northbound release. Following themes of abandonment, fucking-up, and isolation, the song had a tender, powerful bridge. “If you want it / reach inside your pocket / I’ve always been your option / a baby’s breath in bloom.” While I wasn’t familiar with Northbound before this set, I’m excited to see what they release next. 

Finally, former Chicagoan Alex Wieringa took the floor as Rare Candy, bringing not one, but two guitars named after Pokemon gym trainers to his set. (Misty and Lieutenant Serge) Also playing acoustic and mic-less, Alex’s voice and catchy guitar licks saturated the space. His lyrics imbued hope into tragic scenarios. Folks in the crowd sang along during “27s on 10 and 2” - “Is there something wrong with my guts or my lack thereof? / You can take my kind words and respectfully shove them / straight down your throat. / I hope that you choke on the love you thought you'd given somebody else.” Misery loves company, especially when earworms are involved! Check out Rare Candy’s most recent release - a pair of ukulele songs titled “Nowhere to Go” and “Get to Know You,” the former painting a picture of “seeing somebody that broke your heart with somebody else and brutally killing them.” Jason Miraz meets Gone Girl. 

If you’d like to see this gig for yourself, check out JJ’s YouTube channel here. It is a deep, deep well of DIY goodness. No PBRs at this gig, friends, as JJ’s Bar and Grill is a sober space, but sometimes the only cold one you need to crack open with the boys is a sick riff. Stay tuned for more Concert ReBrews write-ups in the future, and in the meantime, cheers!

Album ReBrews N/A Faves

Check out some of our favorite N/A bevs - with album pairings, naturally.

Did you know April is Alcohol Awareness Month? We’re closing out the month with a celebration of non-alcoholic beverages across a variety of categories, from seltzer to spirits. Whether you choose not to drink, are currently taking a break from drinking, or want to try something new, these are all legitimately delicious faves of mine! (This is Sarah, by the way)

Go-To Weeknight Brewski: Run Wild Non-Alcoholic IPA by Athletic Brewing Co.

We love a good IPA here at Album ReBrews, but we don’t always love getting sleepy after having an afternoon brew! This non-alcoholic IPA by Athletic Brewing Co. (check out their whole line of N/A beer!) is hoppy and refreshing without alcohol. Take this guy camping! Bring it to a BBQ! Run wild!

Suggested Album Pairing: Big Mess by Grouplove

---

Chilled-Out Mocktail: Marz Brewing CBD Elixir Juniper Fizz

Hiiiiiiiiiii Chicago CBD seltzer! We love Marz. We love CBD. We especially love this refreshing juniper seltzer - easily swappable with a typical gin & tonic. Zero hangxiety here (hangover anxiety, iykyk…), just blissed-out deliciousness. Pour this one in a nice glass over ice and put a record on.

Suggested Album Pairing: Mother Earth’s Plantasia by Mort Garson

---

Bar Cart Beauty - Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif

Who said mixed drinks needed to be boozy to be delicious? This non-alcoholic apéritif (a drink meant to stimulate the appetite before a meal) stands alongside typical Italian apéritifs like Campari or sweet vermouth. She’s herby, she’s fruity, she’s complex. (Just like both of our co-hosts) Paired with ginger beer or seltzer - this guy is a knockout.

Suggested Album Pairing: Anak Ko by Jay Som

---

Cider? I Barely Even Know Her! - Otto’s Hopped Apple CBD Cider

Yummmmmmyumyumyum. Grab a cozy sweatshirt and your Bluetooth speaker and take this one out on the porch. Better yet, sip it next to a bonfire with some pals. This hoppy, lightly-sweet CBD apple cider hits the spot when it’s time to crack open a cold one.

Suggested Album Pairing: Shame, Shame (Deluxe Edition) by Dr. Dog

Cheers!

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance misuse, please check out the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for prevention and recovery resources.

CONCERT REBREWS: THE TRENCHIES + OK COOL + MINT GREEN + BETTER LOVE @ THE BURLINGTON

Hey folks we’re back with more Concert Rebrews goodness. This music blog thingy has been so much fun we HAD to do another. This time we went to go see Friends of the Pod, OK Cool at the Burlington Bar. Enjoy!

Alright, so, some background knowledge, this show was the Burlington Bar in Logan Square - a fantastic little DIY hole-in-the-wall dive bar type of place. It’s one of Zac’s favorites - we spent like a dollar a beer. It was also Saint Patrick's Day, which we were a little nervous about going out on but the vibes all around were super chill and hella fun.

Alright, so we get to the bar and we kinda hang around, we are legit some of the first people there right at 8:00 o clock. We were super excited. Can't you tell? Anyway, we aren't sure when to go into the venue area, so we grab some wonderful beer pairings at the bar. We end up chatting about podcast stuff a little too much so we miss the first song of The Trenches. @ the trenches if youre reading this I’m so sorry. BUT when we did walk in, lead singer, Logan Ludwig, was hitting us with the most serendipitous lyrics (and pardon the paraphrase if this isn't exact but it should be pretty close) ”If I had a podcast, would you listen?” and to this we said hell yeah dude! Logan please start a podcast and/or come on ours.

After these initial very cool (and Album Rebrews Approved) lyrics, we settled into the show, and man was it a goodie. The band was dreamy and fun and cool during the whole show. Super catchy vocal lines sifted over top and the drummer kept it driving. He was the king of the surfy double snare hit you hear in surf rock bands. The lyrics seemed very very earnest and tactful even, like he was saying exactly what he meant to be saying. We loved the piano sound in the mix for this type of sound, and the keyboard player, who I might add looked like Adam Driver but sexier and with a mustache, gave us some real treats tickling them ivories.

Alright, next we were so stoked for the super cool musicians and podcast guests, OK Cool to come on! They start their first song, and it slaps, of course it does, and we're vibing, of course we are, and I look up to see the second guitar player, who has a slight moment where he drops out from playing his guitar, and immediately goes into the Macaroni, hips movement and everything, and I just really wanted to start with that because it was my favorite moment of the night. Or maybe this past week.

Anyway! Every song OK Cool Played you could really sink your proverbial teeth into. I found myself banging my head the whole time. Haley’s deliciously crafted bass licks kept me in a perpetual groove state that was all-encompassing of time and space. Lead singer, Bridget gave it her all on every syllable, and when she wasn't singing she poured her soul into that fretboard, even when she wasn't even standing up. Which was at least one point in the show.

I’m feeling pretty good, and at one point in the set I remember a time when I played the Burlington and an audience member came up to the stage and bought us PBRs. It was so nice. A complete stranger liked our set and was like “alright they earned it.” So I thought I would pass along the love. Buy more beers for your favorite bands when you're out supporting them. It’s a very nice thing to do. At another point in the night, Bridget announces a song that is “for the girl gays and they’s” and sarah “fucking squealed” - “YEAHH” she said that squealed bit to me verbatim while writing this. I’m pretty sure OK Cool heard that on stage and it was a pretty funny moment.

Next, the 3rd band, Mint Green, came on; they did a quick sound check per usual at a smaller venue. But then they go into a killer start of The Foo Fighter’s “Everlong” which we are just jazzed for, but then the chords get a little wonky, the drums stumble, and the guitar player makes a remark “I never learned this part”. And then Sarah and I are like “We’ve been bamboozled.” They were only sound-checking with “Everlong”. We were deeply saddened. But not for long!

I really enjoy their energy on stage. You could tell they were a touring band and had some shows under their wings. They seemed very nonchalant and just happy to be there. I remember singing along to their cover of “Creep” so much it fogged up my glasses, a true test of a good cover. Fun fact: if you're a daring enough vocalist at the Burlington, you can walk onto the speaker in the front of the stage and quite easily touch the ceiling. Which is an oddly emotional and captivating thing for a lead vocalist to do. I remember when she did it gave a really nice feel to her vocal line that could only happen in a place like The Burlington. Another reason I love it so much. Lastly, they finished up their awesome set for the night and queued up the 1987 Smash Hit, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston, and the whole crowd - Zac and Sarah included- started dancing. This was a very fun and memorable way to end their set and start loading your equipment off stage.

Lastly, we got to hear the band Better Love. And their first song really hit us with some nice guitar work and vocal melody. The first song was super sweet and we wanted to keep dancing to them just like we did to Whitney Houston, and if it sounds like we left after their first song… we did. We’ve got work in the morning. Comedy podcasting doesn't pay like it used to. Super Sorry Better Love! We will get you next time!

Thanks so much for reading this silly little blog thing. Please go check out these bands, and if you want to support them, you can find a their Bandcamp pages via our Bandcamp page here. Just click on the wishlist to see their albums and then give them money for them. If you liked this blog and would like to read more send us over some shows to check out or maybe tell us about your show and we’ll come buy you PBRs too. Much Love! Cheers!

CONCERT REBREWS: THE MILD WEST + MARINA CITY @ JOE’S ON WEED STREET.

Take a look at the first of a new series called Concert ReBrews! Zac here, Album ReBrews co-host and world leader on how to eat spray cheese. We know how much you like the podcast, but it's obvious that what our audience really desires is to experience the same jokes and wit but in a PURELY VISUAL context with ZERO SOUND required. Thus Concert Rebrews, a blog type concert review thing about local Chicago shows. Enjoy! 

This was such a wholesome experience all around. The Mild West and Marina City held this event at Joe’s on Weed Street as a benefit concert for the Chicago Special Olympics and helped raise over $2,000! What a bunch of stand-up musicians! 

Marina City started the night off right with their flashy dance moves and vocal chops. The only thing perhaps more flashy than frontman Ryan Argast’s vocal chops were his luscious locks. Man, what a good set of hairs on that guy. Also, before I touch on musical quality and performance I have to talk about how good his pants were.  If you can sing and dance and perform like Argast can AND pull off a pair of cool stripy pants like that. You’ve got something going for ya. 

Alright, enough of that, let's talk about performance. What a dynamic range on this guy. He could belt it wild and full, like a huge booming voice in a cathedral, and then bring it in so softly like he’s explaining the tv remote to his own grandmother. Like… woah… so much control, so much nuance. 10/10 great vocal performance. We can not wait to see him on American Idol this year because he is just going to blow them away. Let’s also talk about the keyboard player Matthew Gaudiano’s vocal harmonies. Like just so ethereal throughout the set. The show would not be the same without him. A much-needed aspect to the Marina City Sound.

  Instrumentation was also incredible in this performance. I had not seen Marina City live and I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew the band’s sound was more pop-rock and that of The Neighborhood and the likes, so I wasn't sure if I was going to hear a lot of backing tracks in the mix or if I was going to primarily hear live instrumentation. I think Marina City pulled off the perfect mix of the two, the guitar player's sexy heavy screamy tone was present through the set, and the drummer's groove was impeccable. One thing that always stands out to me in a drummer is how their hi-hat sounds, and Eric Somers-Urrea’s hi-hat technique was clean, crisp, and articulate while doing some crazy flashy stick throws - very cool stuff. And the backing tracks and synth pads were used very tastefully in my opinion, never overshadowing the performance, simply giving a nice background to their sound. All in all an ear-catching performance by the guys in Marina City. Go see them now while you still can get at them in a mid-level venue because it is so totally worth it! 

Alright time for the main act: Mild Zach! I mean The Mild West. Actually, this section of the blog is no longer about the performance, Let’s just talk about Mild Zach’s (AKA Zach Wheeler) outfit. Never have I ever seen a hat and sunglasses pair that good. It really blew me away. And those white sneakers, choice. They brought out his fancy footwork almost as much as his fancy guitar work. 

BUT back to the topic at hand - This is a super tight band all around with some incredible star players. I was blown away by the show's energy. Lead singer Kylie Bruetman was especially entertaining to watch perform. He did some amazing pirouettes- I get a sense of maybe some ballet in this singer's background. That type of footwork doesn't come from just anywhere. Vocals were top-notch and friendly and catchy - oh GAWD they were catchy. At one point Kylie asks the audience to sing some OH OH OH OH OHHS. Which they did amazingly - the packed house was at their mercy. I helped as well, of course. I was also later singing those beautiful OHS on the way home, in the shower, and in the car, and as I’m writing this one week later. I might die signing those OHs. Which is fine. 

The next thing that really caught my attention in the set was the bass player. He was sporting this stellar wooden Warwick-looking 5 (or 6 maybe) string bass and just playing the hell out of it. The underlying groove was so present and palpable it left so much room for the vocals and melodies to soar, AND THEN the bass player also took lead for one song and damn, he killed that too.  

I want to finish up this review with possibly the sweetest moment that’s happened to me to date. The band is possibly a third of the way through their set and they bring out a cover, its Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Going Down.” They kill it. Of course they do. They're professionals. The best moment though was after the second guitar player, Aaron Gordon’s flawless solo the crowd erupts in cheer and the older gentlemen near us taps me on the shoulder, and with the biggest smile I think I may have ever seen, tells me “that’s my son!” Seeing a father that proud was super nice and sentimental, and I think I will always remember that about this show. Good job Aaron, your dad is so stinkin’ proud of you.  Such a great concert. I cannot wait to make it out to one of their shows again.  

We here at Album Rebrews are big fans of The Mild West; the music and the members, so please go check out their music and their stellar music video for “Shooting Star” shot by our past guest, Max Williams. And if you haven't yet, go check out episode 34 where Mild Zach (AKA Zach Wheeler) takes us through a really great album. Mak sure to Check out Special Olympics Chicago and all the ways you can donate HERE! Until next time, CHEERS!

P.S This post is not sponsored by Goose Island. They were just the only local beer at Joe’s to pair with these local bands.