Metro Chicago

Before they hit it big with summer soundtrack cornerstone,...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:05:33 -0500

Before they hit it big with summer soundtrack cornerstone, “Amber” and platinum-selling records, 311 were a welcomed fixture on the club circuit. The Omaha rockers had a whirlwind year in 1994, and Metro was one of many stops along the road to the fabled “big break.” Two years after Doug “SA” Martinez joined the roster to lend his vocals and turntable skills to the lineup, 311 hit Metro for their June 16, 1994, show. The Omaha quintet had just released their debut the year before and was dutifully awaiting the drop of their sophomore LP, Grassroots; but they managed to work well into the night with a packed 23-song set. Noodling around jazz inflections and reggae beats, the band fused oft-forgotten genres with classic rock tropes to forge an elastic, insistent breed of alt-rock. Not unlike their laidback musical lean, the show was left untethered by ego and bombast—none of the pomp of a soon-to-be platinum band, and all of the talent.

Setlist (via setlist.fm)

1. Freak Out

2. Offbeat Bare Ass

3. Visit

4. Taiyed

5. Homebrew

6. Do You Right

7. Omaha Stylee

8. My Stoney Baby

9. Silver

10. Summer of Love

11. Nutsymtom

12. Paradise

13. Welcome

14. Luky

15. Nix Hex

16. Plain

17. Applied Science

18. Misdirected Hostility

19. Six

20. Salsa

21. Feels So Good

22. Hydroponic

23. Unity

[ticket stub]

Often flacked with the title as “most consistent” rock band of...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:22:18 -0500

Often flacked with the title as “most consistent” rock band of the aughts, New Yorkers The National hit Metro with their melancholic jams on June 7, 2007, with Shapes & Sizes and Talkdemonic rounding out the bill. The post-punk loving Brooklynites had released their revelatory fourth album, Boxer, just a week before and were eager to hit the road. Lead vocalist Matt Berninger’s smooth-as-bourbon baritone poured out cryptic verses and tales of depression and isolation. With jabbing lyrics and intricate melodies, the quintet carved jagged passageways into Berninger’s innermost insecurities and neuroticisms, never sparing a single gritty detail. However gloomy, The National never fails to leave audiences satisfied, reveling in both blissful satisfaction and newfound clarity. Weren’t able to make it out? Check out this Flickr photo set from the show.

Live-Queens Of The Stone Age Kicked My Ass And Took My Soul « The FADER

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 17:13:09 -0500

Live-Queens Of The Stone Age Kicked My Ass And Took My Soul « The FADER:

No strangers to the Metro stage, Queens of the Stone Age tore things up in Chicago yet again on June 7, 2002. In the midst of the recording Songs for the Deaf—the band’s most highly regarded album—QotSA brought the heat in front of a sold out Metro crowd. Honorary member of the band (and Foo Fighters frontman) Dave Grohl quickly soaked through and subsequently lost his shirt, serving as the driving force behind Queens’ heavy riff-centered rock. Fans at Metro brought their A Game, as the unrelenting mosh only fueled the blaze that had broken out on stage—there’s a reason Josh Homme emphatically described that night as “the best show of the entire tour.”

Before going on hiatus last summer, Thrice embarked on a...

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:38:18 -0500

Before going on hiatus last summer, Thrice embarked on a farewell tour that saw them stopping at Metro for one of their final shows. On June 2, 2012, the Californian rockers didn’t hesitate to dip into their back catalogue, as they whipped out songs from all seven of their LPs, showcasing the group’s dynamic sound that was always in motion throughout their 14-year run. Though Thrice hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a reunion, their loyal Chicago fans showed up in legions to the show, which sold out months in advance. Something was in the air that night at Metro—footage of the concert comes close to capturing the sweaty, mosh-happy, fist-pumping atmosphere, as fans gave this band a hero’s sendoff.

After 8 years scraping through the Chicago punk scene, Naked...

Thu, 30 May 2013 14:54:25 -0500

After 8 years scraping through the Chicago punk scene, Naked Raygun had cropped up loyal fan bases across the country with their melodic punk cuts and hardcore roots. On May 29, 1988, Naked Raygun threw a spectacular homecoming from their West Coast tour alongside Lemonheads and locals Bhang Revival for an all ages performance. Having played 25 shows in a matter of 30 days, the band’s whirlwind tour had come to a close and the quartet was ready to be welcomed back to their home city with open arms. Just on the coattails of the release of their third album, Jettison, Naked Raygun had 12 new tracks to fill out their fist flailing sets. This vicious show bill encapsulated the piloted fury and electrifying showmanship that had come to define the punk scene at the time. Naked Raygun continued to cement their place in Chicago punk and are now considered one of the pinnacle defining bands of the genre—this show was only the beginning of a legacy for them.

Catch Naked Raygun next month for their two-night stint at Metro on June 28th and 29th.

After rising to fame outside of his creative cave in Portland,...

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:13:28 -0500

After rising to fame outside of his creative cave in Portland, Oregon, with his heart-tapping lyrics and unfussy melodies, Elliott Smith became a face for a generation of confused and heartbroken minds. After a poignant performance in 1998 and a show backing XO the next year, Smith bowed on the Metro stage for the last time during his May 26, 2000, performance. Smith had just completed his second and final major label release, Figure 8, still booming with his plug-and-play pop but with the raw punk edge that cradled him in his early days. Even with channels mining into his musical roots, Smith’s performance was still electrified with the visceral trappings that brought him fame. The intricate weaving of vocals and melodies scattered throughout Metro, wielding such power that it was easy to forget that it was just a man and his guitar onstage. The performance takes on a new air of profoundness knowing that three years later, Smith would be the subject of tributes and memorials. Watch this performance of 2:45 AM, the final song of his set, and keep the sighs of mourning at bay.

Setlist (via setlist.fm)

1. Son of Sam

2. Junk Bond Trader

3. Bled White

4. Everything Means Nothing to Me

5. Cupid’s Trick

6. LA

7. Bottle Up andExplode!

8. In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)

9. Mr. Good Morning

10. Stupidity Tries

11. Sweet Adeline

12. Pretty (Ugly Before)

13. A Question Mark

14. Independence Day

15. Can’t Make a Sound

16. Color Bars

17. Pretty Mary K

18. 2:45 AM

When Al Jourgensen first strutted across Metro’s stage on May...

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:23:13 -0500

When Al Jourgensen first strutted across Metro’s stage on May 25, 1984, no one in the sold out crowd could have predicted what would become of his band Ministry. Still a new wave group at the time, influential industrial metal records like Psalm 69 and The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste were just dark, angry twinkles in the back of Jourgensen’s head. Ministry synth-rocked the crowd with a dazzling and squeaky-clean show that even saw Jourgensen sporting a fake British accent. The band’s change in direction was welcomed with open arms by the Chicago music scene, as these pioneers of thrash, along with their various offshoots like The Revolting Cocks and Front 242, went on to slay the Metro stage a few more times before Ministry’s first breakup in 2008.

After they called a hiatus in 2002, there was barely a silver...

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:20:32 -0500

After they called a hiatus in 2002, there was barely a silver lining to speak of for Seattle metal heads Alice in Chains. The band was ailing from the death of lead singer Layne Staley and they hadn’t chugged out an album since an eponymous 1995 release. But the quartet obliterated every trace of doubt when they collided with the masses of Metro on May 21, 2006, for an amp blasting show. Inaugurating new frontman William Duvall, the grunge disciples took the new lineup for a spin with fantastic results. Hammering through a dense setlist of greatest hits and forgotten gems, they kept the crowd firing at all cylinders, never missing a beat, let alone stopping for a breath.

Setlist (via setlist.fm)

1. Sludge Factory

2. Dam That River

3. Rain When I Die

4. We Die Young

5. Love, Hate, Love

6. Again

7. Junkhead

8. Down in a Hole

9. Rooster

10. It Ain’t Like That

11. Would?

12. Man in the Box

James Murphy has always had a flair for the dramatic. Last...

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:22:17 -0500

James Murphy has always had a flair for the dramatic. Last year’s Shut Up and Play The Hits, a tear jerker of a film that documents his band’s final, sold out show at Madison Square Garden, attests to this. That spark was evident throughout LCD Soundystem’s ten-year run, and very much present when they played Metro on May 19, 2005. Touring in support of their first self-titled record, with future arena fillers M.I.A. and Diplo opening, this show was something special. The band’s final concert at Madison Square Garden may have received the Hollywood treatment, but that stadium show pales in comparison to the connection that Murphy and company made with their early Chicago supporters at Metro eight years ago.

Shortly after wrapping up a series of shows as the openers for...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:40:40 -0500

Shortly after wrapping up a series of shows as the openers for Bright Eyes, indie-poppers Rilo Kiley embarked on a headlining tour of their own. The band stopped at Metro in May of 2005, and proceeded to gently rock the house. Footage from that concert can be seen here, and shows a characteristically enthusiastic Metro crowd fueling these pioneers of the gratefully bashful stage presence. Rilo Kiley disbanded in 2011, but the mark that they left on indie-pop can still be felt today. Jenny Lewis, the band’s frontwoman, can be seen today on tour with The Postal Service.

Whether it was beneath the eclipse of his father’s fame, or the...

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:20:20 -0500

Whether it was beneath the eclipse of his father’s fame, or the towering fame of his tender cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” Jeff Buckley was a man accustomed to the shadows. The star child of folk star Tim Buckley, a young Jeff seemed destined for a career on the main stage, and Metro was one of them. On May 13, 1995, Buckley made a very special appearance at Metro for a live performance broadcast through JBTV and was eventually released as a live album and DVD in 2000 to fans’ delight. Pulling plenty from his sole complete studio album, Buckley’s emotive voice decked the eager room. Buckley may have bowed out too soon, but if there’s one show of his to be relived, it’s this one.

Setlist (via setlist.fm)

1. Dream Brother

2. Lover, You Should’ve Come Over

3. Mojo Pin

4. So Real

5. Last Goodbye

6. Eternal Life

7. Kick Out the James (MC5 cover)

8. Lilac Wine (Nina Simone cover)

9. What Will You Say

10. Grace

Encore

1. Vancouver

2. Kanga-Roo (Big Star cover)

3. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover)

Though he’s principally known as an unstoppable creative force...

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:40:41 -0500

Though he’s principally known as an unstoppable creative force in seminal punk band Hüsker Dü and jagged pop trio Sugar, Bob Mould is no stranger to the solo circuit. After taking his leave from Hüsker Dü in favor of new creative endeavors, Mould embarked on his first solo tour, bringing him through Metro on May 14, 1989. With a dominantly acoustic theme and heavy folk influences, Mould’s solo debut Workbook was an unforeseen departure from his formerly gruff sound. Not unlike his contributions to the Dü, though, Mould continued to reflect inward with his music, scouring for concord. Fans were treated to a new side of Mould the day of this Metro show, one unbarred from a tumultuous rockerpast and relinquished from a haze of static. It may have been a Bob Mould that few would recognize, but his fans welcomed him with open arms for an unforgettable show.

metrochicago: Rolling Stone is calling…it’s time for our close...

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:27:44 -0500

metrochicago:

Rolling Stone is calling…it’s time for our close up. Metro is in the running for Rolling Stone’s Venues That Rock Reader’s Poll! We need your help to show everyone in America why we’re the best venue in the country. Instagram us your best photos of the club or a Metro show, and tag it with #VoteMetro. Don’t worry, your photos won’t go unnoticed—our favorite entries could win you tickets to upcoming shows and plenty of Metro swag! Check out all the details here. And don’t forget to vote for us here!

INXS may have been known for their pretty boy singer, but they...

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:20:25 -0500

INXS may have been known for their pretty boy singer, but they never settled for being just another fad—their live performances were proof enough. The Australian rockers had racked up plenty of years by the time they hit Metro on May 12, 1993, but they sure didn’t show their age. Rolling through Chicago on their Get Out of the House Tour, INXS was plenty busy enjoying the spoils reaped from their ninth studio release Full Moon, Dirty Hearts. The six-piece ambitiously dove into the classics, too, with their cover of Steppenwolf’s iconic rock jam “Born To Be Wild” booted on as a bonus track. Calling on every teeth-sinking single in their catalog, the Aussies enchanted the crowd with their newfound grunge sound and tipped a hat to their firmly rooted rock.

Setlist (via setlist.fm)

1. Communication

2. Days of Rust

3. The Gift

4. The Loved One

5. Cut Your Roses Down

6. Taste It

7. Need You Tonight

8. Mediate

9. Full Moon, Dirty Hearts

10. Please (You Got That…)

11. Suicide Blonde

12. I Send a Message

13. All Around

14. What You Need

15. New Sensation

16. Kick

17. Devil Inside

18. Heaven Sent

Encore

1. Time

2. The Messenger

3. Bitter Tears

4. Just Keep Walking

5. Mystify

6. Don’t Change

Known for spoon-feeding infectious synth melodies through guitar...

Sat, 11 May 2013 11:20:32 -0500

Known for spoon-feeding infectious synth melodies through guitar pedals at his footsteps, Gary Numan became one of the leading faces of New Wave in the ‘80s. After a short hiatus and later revival, Numan gave his career a jump with his May 11, 1998, Metro show. After a short lull in his work’s reception, Numan spun a creative 180 with the 1997 release of Exile. An exploratory work pushing Numan’s creative bounds into new territories. Despite his sometimes “wooden” stage presence, Numan’s unshakeable concentration only upped the ante at the gig. His stoic intensity charged the show wherever his heavily charged melodies failed to reach. Crossing the punk energy with the modern gleam of electronic music, Numan’s audience was captivated by both the man himself and the movement he was creating.

The set list and bootleg recording of the 1998 show can be found here. Above, check out footage of Gary Numan’s return to Metro in 2010.

California five-piece Deftones hit a breakthrough with their...

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:40:33 -0500

California five-piece Deftones hit a breakthrough with their restless cross of traditional metal structures with barely heard subgenres. Amidst the release of their fourth studio album, the Sacramento metal heads sawed through Chicago for their May 11, 2003, gig. Still clinging onto their alternative rock roots, Deftones began to explore some of their heaviest compositions to date. They didn’t shy away from the dangerously experimental, either—the eponymous album also featured plenty of trip hop influences. Plenty of crowd favorites and new singles were taken for a spun at the Metro gig. The band was carving a new path for themselves, and fans liked the sound of this new journey.

One of a few things can result from an unbearable middle school...

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:20:21 -0500

One of a few things can result from an unbearable middle school class—new friendships, an undying disdain; but barely ever a band, let alone one with a cult following. To break the monotony of a middle school typing class, Ween’s core members formed their experimental rock group, never anticipating the caliber of fame they’d reach. They certainly never thought that they’d be performing on Metro’s stage on May 7, 1993. A handful of independently released LP’s led to Ween’s major label signing and a prolific career bleeding into every genre they could crank out. The East Coasters passed through Chicago after the release of Pure Guava, which laid out their single “Push th’ Little Daisies” on a shiny silver platter.

Listen to their full set from this show here.

Setlist (via setlist.fm)

1. El Camino

2. Stallion Pt 3

3. Vallejo

4. Puerto Rican Power

5. Don’t Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy)

6. Marble Tulip Juicy Tree

7. You Fucked Up

8. Shalom Absalom

9. Pork Roll Egg And cheese

10. Captain Fantasy

11. Poopship Destroyer

12. Common Bitch

13. Fat Lenny

14. Ode to Rene

15. Reggaejunkiejew

16. Boing

17. Nan

Encore

1. Papa Zit

2. Bumblebee

3. Tick

4. Freedom of ‘76

5. Sweet Texas Fire

6. LMLYP (Prince cover)

Jack Johnson’s chipper rhymes have become synonymous with sun...

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:40:00 -0500

Jack Johnson’s chipper rhymes have become synonymous with sun and surf, and he brought his Hawaiian charm to Metro on May 7, 2002. After marking the map with his string grazing folk single “Flake,” Johnson was on the road prepping his follow-up, On and On. Leading with his most infectious melodies and heartwarming lyrics, Johnson—never intending on making a living in music—felt right at home onstage. With crowds pooling to catch an earful of his pop-centric melodies and beachcomber hooks, Johnson seemed to have brought his own little ray of sunshine to Chicago with him.

[image]

While packing arenas with their vibrant live sets and avant...

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:20:33 -0500

While packing arenas with their vibrant live sets and avant garde themes is commonplace, British alt-rock band Coldplay engulfed Metro during a stop on their Twisted Logic Tour in 2005. Supporting of their third album X&Y, which dove headfirst into hook-driven electronic trappings, Coldplay marked a creative departure from the bare bones-‘n-strings approach of their earlier releases. With this exploration came a newfound comfort on stage and a lust for theatrical experimentation. This surge of confidence inspired one of the band’s most theatrical tour concepts, complete with strobe lights and entrancing backdrops. While the quartet had eyes fixed on their current state of affairs, they found time to throw in fan favorites including breakout single “Yellow” and misty eyed ballad “The Scientist.”

Conor Oberst is a man of many faces and, in turn, many bands....

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:41:29 -0500

Conor Oberst is a man of many faces and, in turn, many bands. While Oberst graces the lineup of innumerable indie bands, Bright Eyes is no doubt the crowning jewel of his career. In a lull between Bright Eyes albums and practices with his newest pursuit Desaparecidos, Oberst found time in his busy schedule to take the Omaha trio on the road and stop at Metro on May 7, 2003. The band had recently achieved “Best New Artist” status from a slew of publications with the release of Lifted… and was prepping for the release of the understatedly tragic I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning. Conor Oberst’s enraged vocals and creative authorship steered the band into a cathartic set, slipping throughout the band’s five album-strong catalog. Luckily, we have a few mementos of our own from the show, be sure to check out the silkscreen above.