69 Faces of Rock: The Mission, The Chameleons, Theatre of Hate

What an amazing evening of alternative new wave music from the British Isles. The three bands that performed tonight are very specific in their respective subgenres, and incredibly influential in the world of new wave music. You simply couldn’t dream of better pairing that could speak to the audience on so many different levels.

Theatre of Hate got on stage first, and quickly established a very good rapport with the audience. The band was well rehearsed and flowing, and there was a bit of mystery about the way they played. This legendary outfit goes back all the way to 1980, and represents the post punk underground at its absolute best. Vocalist/guitarist, Kirk Brandon, was commanding the show, and setting the tone song after song. Bassist, Stan Stammers, added a lot of feel with his very colorful rhythms. His interaction with drummer, Chris Bell, was extremely impressive. Saxophonist, Clive Osbourne, was the key element here. While not completely up front, it was Osbourne’s saxophone parts that brought each song to life.

There was amazing musical interaction between the four members of Theatre of Hate. They even played, Grapes of Wrath, a song by Spear of Destiny, which another legendary band that Kirk Brandon is part of. It was great to hear that song, as much as Judgement Hymn, or Do You Believe in West World. It’s odd how these songs take on a different meaning decades after they were written. Theatre of Hate proved they are a timeless band, and should definitely enjoy more than a cult status on this side of the Atlantic.

The Chameleons were next, and it yet another legend to grace the Thalia Hall stage in the same evening. They came on strong with A Person Isn’t Safe Anywhere These Days, and this couldn’t be more-true when you’re in the middle of Chicago. From the first song onward, The Chameleons had the crowd captivated and engaged. Each song took the band to a new high, and the audience was there right along with them.

Bassist/vocalist, Mark Burgess, was very charismatic, and delivered a very good show. There was a bit of trauma, as Burgess’s mother passed away only few days before this performance. He carried through, and added a lot of sorrow and spirituality into his delivery. The Chameleons worked well as a unit, left the crowd more than satisfied with their brand of post punk rock.

The Mission were the main attraction of the evening, and they hist the stage with Beyond the Pale, setting the right mood for the rest of the evening. There was a very natural flow in how The Mission acted, and played the songs. There was nothing forced about their show, just a band having fun, and making their audience happy. Even though the nature of many of their songs may be melancholic, or even outright morbid, there was a lot of humor in how vocalist/guitarist, Wayne Hussey, handled himself. At 65, Hussey, sounded great, and seemed just as vital as he was back in 1988 at the Metro. Hussey himself may argue the point, but the fans were happy to see him again playing those great songs.

Besides Hussey, the band featured Craig Adams on bass, and Simon Hinkler on guitar from the original line up of the band. Alex Baum, was playing drums for The Mission, and he did a mighty good job with those songs, even scoring a short drum solo. These players knew each other inside out, you could feel the good vibes coming from the stage, and a perfect execution of the songs that followed.

The Mission played a very varied set. There was a combination of classic tracks like Wasteland, Severina, Deliverance, or Butterfly on a Wheel which brought the house down with each chord. The band played several deeper cuts from the middle part of their career. Songs like Met-Amor-Phosis, or Afterglow, which also worked great, and got great reactions from the audience. The band closed their most ultimate classic of all, which is Tower of Strength, and that was a great way to conclude the show.

There was a very relaxed atmosphere throughout the show. The bands were great, and you could sense of community of commitment within the ranks of the fans. Everyone was having a great time, hearing some great tunes, and seeing legendary bands bringing back some of the best memories from the past. But let’s not stay too deep in the past, all three groups are very much forward thinking, and they still write and release new music, which deserves your attention, and support. Amazing evening of three very special and unique bands. Catch them if they come through your town.

Mark Kadzielawa

GALLERY

THE MISSION