The Mission, The Chameleons, Theatre of Hate - Thalia Hall, Chicago 10/6/23

 

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

THE CHAMELEONS

THEATRE OF HATE

Mercurius – The Anatomy of Depression (self-release)

 

This record is simply incredible!  Mercurius is probably the most refreshing progressive metal band to come onto the scene.  They are a very young group, and they hail from Tarnow, Poland.  From the first sounds, there is a level of suspense in their music, and it pretty much stays that way throughout the entire album.  It’s an incredibly mature sounding album, and all the players are their early 20s. 

The Anatomy of Depression is a very much a guitar driven album, and both players, Mateusz and Adrian Kuchyt, brothers in real life, create one of a kind atmosphere.  The album is filled with very tasty licks, and ideas that give each song a purpose and a solution.  Both players concentrate on what each song needs, and perfectly execute.  The soloing is very creative, and at time minimal to great effects.  Vocalist, Mateusz Mazanek, is more like another instrument.  His voice adds the color to already rich sounds.  Mazanek’s delivery is very emotional, and the lyrics portray a deeper sensitivity.  Add the very reliable rhythm section, Patryk Pogan (b.) and Jakub Piotrowski (dr.), and the picture is complete.

The music on this record is very spiritual.  The beauty of it all is that the group takes the listener along on a journey, and displays the feelings they are trying to show.  This aspect makes you want to listen to this album over and over again.  The songs have very clever melodies, some are very obvious, others come out at you as you experience the record.  Also, as mentioned before, lyrically, this is a psychology session in progress.  Mercurius deals with very grown-up issues, and often questions the idea of the existence.  Things can get very personal here if you let it.

Musically, Mercurius, clearly stands out on its own.  They are original, and incredibly skillful.  There are some traces of what Dream Theater is doing, or latter-day Fates Warning, in their music, but generally speaking, Mercurious lives and breathes in its own aura.  The Anatomy of Depression is by far one of the finest albums of the year, and one can only wonder how they will follow it.  Brilliant in every way possible!

Mark Kadzielawa

Kamelot - Vic Theatre, Chicago 8/24/23 (visual review - all images by Mark Kadzielawa)

 

Helloween / Hammerfall - Riviera, Chicago 5-22-23 (visual review - all images by Mark Kadzielawa)

HAMMERFALL

All of the phots taken by Mark Kadzielawa.

BANG – Another Me (Cleopatra)

 

BANG are a traditional American hard rock band.  Their story starts in 1969, and with some breaks, continues to this day.  There were several reformations over the year, but the band returned for good in 2014.  Another Me is their latest album.

BANG has its own very unique style.  After the first listen, you understand that only people from that particular time frame are able to play like that.  This trio delivers a very good album, that simply gets better with each listen.

Another Me continues everything BANG started five decades ago.  The band has a lot of melody, catchy licks, and a very natural sense of heaviness.  The songs are sounding sophisticated, but with plenty of hooks waiting for the listener.  Before you know it, you’re humming along the riffs, and singing along the lyrics.  The album as a whole has a very good vibe.

BANG are still on top of their game, in fact they play even better than in the past.  The years of experience are showing here clearly.  Another Me has a rock mood in it.  You can feel it and taste it, each time you play this album.

Mark Kadzielawa