Crowds formed early last night at a sold-out Metro for male/female duo, Sleigh Bells, who opened for fellow Brooklyn-ites and highly anticipated headliner, Yeasayer.

The lights went down as Sleigh Bells’ Derek Miller took the stage hardly visible in dark pants and a hoodie. The sound of church bells clanged and echoed throughout the venue before lead singer, Alexis Krauss, emphatically made her presence known. They opened with the new single off their debut album Treats (due out in May), “Tell ‘Em”, packed with screeching guitar riffs and thundering beats that mimic heavy artillery being launched, offset by soft vocals. “Beach Girls” followed with a hip-hop hook, while “Infinity Guitars” provided crunchy chords and nonsense lyric shouted almost angrily at the audience. This similar style continued with “A/B Machines”, comparable to a glitch hop club banger, complete with distorted drums, siren guitars, and a loudly exclaimed mantra: “Got my A machines on the table! Got my B machines in the drawer!” Alexis’ in-your-face performance failed to disappoint. While their music vibrated chest-deep, she seduced the crowd, daring all of us to look away, twirling and flailing around violently on stage. If the crowd wasn’t convinced at this point, she shocked them into submission as she about climbed on the speakers and let out shrill banshee-like shrieks over ripping guitar chords and an ever-present thumping. Their set concluded with the more popular, “Crown on the Ground”, recognizable by its epic loudness and its deliberate push to speaker-blowing audio extremes. The song helped solidify the duo’s performance and their unfaltering energy, bringing the crowd’s enthusiasm to a crescendo during this final number. Minor technical difficulties aside, the outlook for Sleigh Bells is more than promising and I think it’s safe to say we can expect great things from them.

Yeasayer’s performance was undeniably electrifying. The three core members, Chris Keating, Anand Wilder and Ira Wolf Tuton, appeared on stage in clashing wardrobes, with Wilder in what appeared to be a patterned robe, Keating in a classic preppy ensemble and Tuton in loose-fitting tank. Offbeat threads, however, couldn’t distract the audience from their hypnotic three-part harmony. Spacey synths and 80s pop drums, layered over added electronic chatter, flowed together seamlessly throughout the group’s falsetto-heavy songs. But it’s too difficult to simplify the band’s sound – a far cry from their fellow indie rockers. The bands repertoire included songs like “O.N.E.”, taking on a more jam band-y feel and “Strange Reunions”, utilizing global influences; to more lulling and almost misty numbers, “Love Me Girl” and “Madder Red”. Watching these principle members, standing atop illuminated platforms, contributing varying vocals and instrumentals to the band’s set wasn’t dissimilar to a Blue Man Group performance – delectable to both the eyes and ears. Fan favorite, “Ambling Alp” – an upbeat number complete with tween pop-like lyrics – proved to be a fitting wrap to their eclectic set. The performance could be described as colorful in every sense of the word, but most prominent overall was this dynamic group’s ability to flawlessly blend all of their sounds that emanated from the stage that night into what could only be recounted as a dreamy, emotive swell.

Review By: Alison Lato

Yeasayer- www.yeasayer.net

Sleigh Bells – www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic

March 14, 2010 As the RJD2 and Break Science tour blew through Chicago’s historic Metro it exuded both refreshing electronica and cunning instrumental arrangements. The night kicked off with a dashing performance by Adam Deitch (drums) and Borahm Lee (Keys and Dj). Deitch’s pocket and kick-ass drum chops got the audience hoppin’ and hip-shakin’ to the dynamic groove. His blend of jazz-funk and hip-hop electronica on acoustic drums is virtually untouched by any other drummer. The geniuses threw in some remixes by Rusko that offered something familiar for the bass faces in the crowd.

And this fairly new project delivered, prompting an exceptional reaction from a crowd there for RJD2. And without a moment’s notice, said RJD2 sneaked on stage in the blink of an eye. He was disguised in a robot outfit with an outrageous spinning beat-machine attached to his belt, wow! As he performed solo by hitting buttons on this ‘magic belt,’ the audience was astonished by this new invention. His solo performance had only lasted a short time, when, without stopping the music, his act transitioned instantaneously into a full band set. It was shocking to see RJD2 up on stage shredding a guitar and singing with a full band. The songs were new and powerful with a jam-soul-funky vibe. After a quick set with the full band, the remaining 90 minute set featured the duo of RJD2 and his drummer, Sam Brown. Not only was RJD2s set full of instrumental skill, but the entire performance was exciting, ever-changing and completely unpredictable. The night was complete with remarkable remixes with an artistry of instrumentation.

By: Shayna Gladstone

Delorean Nites Featuring Designer Drugs

The hype for the first official, “Delorean Nites” at recently opened Lincoln Hall in Chicago, was anything but contradictory to the hype that the show was receiving up to February 6^th and the build up was intense.  The doors were scheduled to open at 10:30pm and already had a line stretching around the venue and into the ally around back.  This gave any on lookers or doubters to the shows success, a quick reality check to the scale and popularity of not only Delorean Nites, but for the New York electronic sensation, Designer Drugs.

With local acts, Broken Disco 1980, Punky Fresh (2009 Lollapalooza remix contest winners), DJ Skyler and Midnight Conspiracy opening, it was an epic introduction to how the night was going to end.  A sold out show, live visuals, mixed with local power house DJ’s and world wide touring act, Designer Drugs made the night out to be an over whelming success. With the hard work of local DJ’s and promoters in Chicago, Members Only AV and everyone involved to thank for the shows success, it’s not a bad start for the first of its kind in an ongoing monthly event.

Expect nothing less than an epic show you can tell your friends about, and keep you dancing in a world where having, “too much fun” isn’t in our vocabulary.  Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for the next of its kind.

Check out MySpace for all the artists playing at the first, Delorean Nites:

www.MySpace.com/DesignerDrugsClubMusic

www.Myspace.com/MidnightConspiracy

www.MySpace.com/SkylerJam

www.MySpace.com/PunkyFreshSounds

www.MySpace.com/Neutrak

As well as the official photos documenting the night by Steven Holliday:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/slhphoto/sets/72157623250598179/

Story by: Chris Hemstreet

Thursday, January the 28^th, UK dubstep artist 16-Bit invaded Chicago at the weekly Dubstep Thursdays with his original tracks and heavy dropping DJ set at Smart Bar, in Chicago.  Fans of the underground musical movement that is known none other than dubstep were pleasantly surprised as soon as 16-Bit hit the stage.  Playing newly recorded tracks from the unreleased “The Exploding Fist” Ep was well accepted by the fans, and knew they were in for an exciting treat for his first Smart Bar visit.  The still underground genre is quickly taking flight and popularity in the electronic music scene with current dubstep DJ’s playing at huge world wide festivals and venues such as Coachella, Ultra, as well as local spots in Chicago and around the world.

Known for the heavy hitting bass and exciting build ups, the genre is quickly gaining popularity by attracting artists to do remixes of other dubstep tracks, as well as releasing cross genre tracks that have the heavy hitting bass that the genre is known for.  Check out 16-Bit’s Myspace for tour dates, as well as new tracks from the world wide touring sensation that is, 16-Bit.

Myspace.com/16bitmusic

By Chris Hemstreet