Heavy Chicago – Day 2 – Avondale Music Hall, Chicago, Illinois 11/4/23 (words and images by Mark Kadzielawa)

There was a very positive vibe about this show from the very beginning.  You could sense that a lot of work went into making this festival as good as it can be, and it is turning out great.  Upon entering, you felt a friendly yet professional attitude from the organizers and the staff.  The audience definitely felt welcomed and safe, and you knew great things were about to happen.

Dust Biters opened the show with a very solid set.  They are a new band out of the Chicago area.  They formed during covid as a survival project, but now transformed into more real band with a definite potential.  Dust Biters already worked out a style, and it can be described as sleaze punk.  Their songs instantly attracted an audience, and for a fairly unknown band that’s a huge step forward.  The band projected a very family feel, but kept their attention on the songs.

Speedfreak came down like a storm!  Here’s a great local band that moved from one strength to the next in the matter of months.  The band played songs off their Fast Lane Livin’ album, and kept the crowd entertained.  Speedfreak included, Dave Hornyak, on drums, who is also one of the promoters of Heavy Chicago, and a superb drummer who knows how employ a cowbell in most creative ways.  Singer, Tommy Kooch, worked the crowd with renewed intensity, and quickly made this appearance a success.  Speedfreak created a great momentum in the last couple of months, and this show proved that they deserve all the success and attention that’s been coming their way lately.  Amazing band doing what they do best!

The Crosses include a Die Kreuzen vocalist, Dan Kubinski, in their ranks.  The band promised an all Die Kreuzen set, and they delivered that with flying colors.  The band went straight into Die Kreuzen’s debut album from 1984, which they played in its entirety.  Adding few tracks from October File, this was one powerful set.  Kubinski was still the master frontman; his onstage charisma is unlike anything else out there.  He had a perfect range to deliver these songs, and make them sound completely authentic.  In some ways, Kubinski’s performance can be compared to a raging lunatic.  He was in a trance, and he took his band and the audience with him.  Listening to these songs four decades later, one realizes how influential Die Kreuzen were, and how many other bands took their vibe, and went onto success of their own.  The state of Wisconsin can be proud created such great band.  The Crosses left no stone unturned with this explosive performance.  Many argued, they stole the show, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with thinking that.  Having seen their show last year in Milwaukee, this writer knew it was going to be a highlight.  Catch this band at any cost!

Nebula had a tough act to follow, but they came on strong, and quickly won the audience with their progressive desert doom approach.  Hailing all the way from Los Angeles, Nebula had been actively recording since 1997.  They had a bit of downtime, but since 2010, they are back stronger than ever!  Guitarist/vocalist, Eddie Glass, was unleashing one riff after another, and matching it with his characteristic vocals on top of it.  Nebula was very heavy, and the songs had a very natural flow to them.  The audience was very enthusiastic about their performance, and the band’s delivery was getting stronger with each song.  Nebula added a perfect balance with their psychedelic riffing and rhythms after the out-of-control craziness from The Crosses.  Great show from Nebula, they were at a perfect spot.

Corrosion of Conformity flew in for this special engagement at Heavy Chicago.  The band and the city have a long history, and a very strong relationship.  In fact, one of the festival’s organizers, Sean Duffy, spent many years promoting Corrosion of Conformity back in the 1980s.  There is a lot of legacy here, and of course the expectations were high.  Corrosion of Conformity opened with Bottom Feeder, and they proceeded just to get heavier with each song.  The band was in great shape, rested, and willing to go all the way and destroy anything in its path.  The sound was thick, heavy, and that bottom end was exposed to the maximum.  Guitarist/vocalist, Pepper Keenan, was in great spirits, delivering his lines with conviction, riffing, and soloing like a madman.  Bassist, Mike Dean, was very precise, his sound was massive, you felt that bass no matter where you stood.  Guitarist, Woody Weatherman, was the key to the sound here.  His riffing was so over the top intense, and he was clearly enjoying himself on stage.  Corrosion of Conformity was having a great time, there were a lot of smiling faces on that stage.  Many in the audience were die-hard fans, some travelled from far to catch the group live. 

Corrosion of Conformity delivered a very flowing set.  They were tight, well-rehearsed, and having fun with the material.  The audience was very excited, and responded passionately to each song.  Before you knew it, the band gave some voting instructions with Vote with a Bullet, and left the stage.  They came back with Born Again for the Last Time, Albatross, and a super long version of Clean My Wounds.  It was a perfect ending for a perfect night.  History was definitely made that evening, and it will be spoken about for many years to come.

Mark Kadzielawa