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.