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Show Review: The Draft/Dead to Me/The Gaslight Anthem
Article posted on Dec 4, 2007 by Ian Lashbrook
Show Review: The Draft & Dead to Me w/The Gaslight Anthem, The Brokedowns, & Off With Their Heads @ Reggie's Live in Chicago, Ill
Review and Photos by: William Jones
The quick version-five really good bands, mostly drunk, testing out a bit of new material, but the three regulars of the tour relied mostly on the single full-length in their respective discography...at a venue on the south side of Chicago with a cool aesthetic but rather shitty sound system.
The rest-The show took place at Reggie's Live, on the south side of Chicago on Oct. 10.
The Draft is an incredibly tight live band (drunk or not, though I can't recall when I've seen them not at least a little intoxicated), but for the fan that has seen the band a number of times, the sets are starting to become just a bit monotonous, with the few digital EP tracks not doing enough to keep things fresh. The Draft was technically sound, and Jason Black still amazes me every time on the bass. Great tunes from In a Million Pieces like "New Eyes Open," "Wired," and "Lo Zee Rose" were all still part of the set. The band just needs to take some time and get some serious new material and maybe toss in an interesting cover or two.
Despite The Draft's technical proficiency, like every other band, they sounded kind of shitty due to the venue's terrible speaker system. Whether right up front or next to the sound board (which, theoretically should provide the best spot for sound), it was terrible. Only certain patches of the floor in the venue offered remotely decent sound, and that was disappointing.
Some amusing dialogue between the band and fans ensued at the beginning of The Draft's set when Black complimented the city of Chicago. One drunk member of the audience responded by saying:
"Yeah, we're bitchin!"
Black: "I think you're too far from any ocean to use the term "bitchin'."
Drunk patron: "Whatever...we've got a big lake."
You had to be there.
Co-headliners Dead to Me released one of last year's best albums in Cuban Ballerina, but unlike The Draft, Chicken and company had a few new tunes to throw into the mix this time. The new stuff sounded mostly like the old stuff, but all seemed to feature Jack, almost exclusively, on vocals.
Dead to Me was easily the most energetic band of the night and had the relatively small crowd moving more than any other, but weren't quite as technically solid as The Draft. A few times they seemed noticeably out of time, but Chicken's uncanny ability to excite the crowd more than made up for it.
If you haven't heard yet, The Gaslight Anthem is one of this year's big things, and deservedly so. Sink or Swim is a tight album, but it doesn't come close to the energy this band exudes live, with its moody blend of punk and blues. Brian Fallon's constant smile helps the crowd experience the joy these guys appear to get from performing, and it really is an experience to be in the crowd when this band plays. The set was primarily Sink or Swim material, but a song or two from an upcoming release was tossed in and sounded just as impressive as what the band has done to date.
And some quick words regarding the openers...
The Brokedowns are a Chicago band that delivers a good mix of punk and hardcore with a live show that has always been intense and only a tad bit sloppy. An amusing, drunk sense of humor helps fill the gaps between songs and if they're ever in your area, I highly recommend checking them out. I also recommend their 2006 release, These Colors Don't Run (The Musical), which has a bit of a Lawrence Arms flavor to it. They've also got a new one out on Thick Records called New Brains for Everyone.
Minneapolis' Off With Their Heads also brought some humor to the show to mix things up with their gruff punk sound. Not a whole lot of variation between the band's songs, but a tight live show. You can find some of their stuff on No Idea if you're not already familiar.
Overall, great bands, great show. I'd just like to hear some new stuff from The Draft camp, but with the recent Hot Water Music reunion announcement, I fear I may be waiting awhile.
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