Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile- Thalia Hall, Chicago 10/27/17

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Combining witty lyrics laden with completely odd, intriguing, and catchy metaphors, masterful guitar jams, and a stage chemistry that showcases a genuine enjoyment, admiration and love of playing together and you have a recipe for a great duet group.  That formula was evident before a capacity crowd at Thalia Hall in Chicago on a brisk Friday evening when Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile took the stage with their combined all-star band "Sea Lice."  The intercontinental friendship of the two stellar songsmiths hailing from Melbourne, AU (Barnett) and Philadephia, PA (Vile),
was evident from the opening laid back groove of "Over Everything," the single and first track off of their stellar album together, Lotta Sea Lice.  What makes Lotta Sea Lice such a treat of a record is how it balances the songwriting strengths of both Barnett and Vile, two writers who tend to focus on the quirky nuances that define the human experience.

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

On "Let It Go," Barnett and Vile literally finish each other's sentences while building a lush soundscape of blues inspired guitar licks around them.  Barnett is an incredibly powerful vocalist, and her lead on "Fear is Like A Forest," a tune penned by her partner and opening act Jen Cloher, has a haunting delivery that plays well against trippy guitar work of Vile. 

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Likewise, when given the chance to take lead vocals, Vile delivered with his signature laid back swagger on tacks like "On Tour" (off of Vile's Smoke Ring for my Halo album from 2011) and "Life Like This" (from 2015's, believe i'm going down) 

While Barnett and Vile were exceptional when taking the lead on tracks, they were even more powerful when their songs were done together.  "Continental Breakfast" was the highlight of the show with masterful duet roles in the characters in the songs, coming from "a hotel in East Bumble, Wherever, somewhere on the sphere around here."

Special props go to Janet Weiss, the former Sleater Kinney drummer, who did a phenomenal job delivering powerful beats on the skins. 

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Opening for Barnett and Vile was Jen Cloher, a fellow Melbourne song smith.  Playing music by yourself on stage with just a guitar can be a challenge to engage the crowd, but the audience was greatly appreciative of Jen's clever lyrics and fun stories between songs that dotted her thirty minute support set.

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Chicano Batman with Khruangbin, Turner Hall Ballroom, 9/29/17

Turner Hall Ballroom's floor was bouncing last Friday night as Los Angeles's Chicano Batman and Houston's Khruangbin invaded Brew City for a night of funk, soul and jams.

photo courtesy of Pabst/Riverside Theater Group

photo courtesy of Pabst/Riverside Theater Group

Khruangbin was one of the most engaging support acts I've had the pleasure of seeing this year.  Their band name means "airplane" in Thai, and the group consisting of virtuoso guitarist Mark Speer, bass player Laura Lee, and drummer D.J. engaged the Turner Hall crowd with an innovative set of jammy tunes inspired by 70's Thai funk music (a genre not often explored).  Lee, in particular served as a band leader laying down layers upon layers of thick and heavy bass lines, connecting with D.J.'s drum licks and allowing Speer the freedom to dance the guitar parts over the grooves to create stunningly unique music.  

If I can describe Khruangbin in one word it would be groovy.  Khruangbin played newer material alongside well-traveled cuts from their 2015 record The Universe Travels Upon You.  With a trippy back drop and light show complimenting Khruanbin's set, it was easy to see how this act has developed a reputation amongst the jam band and funk communities as one not to miss.  Speer's guitar licks both had a throw back and progressive quality simultaneously which, in many ways epitomized Khruangbin as a band that looks in the review mirror on occasion while driving its modern and slinky funk sound forward.  Highlights of the set included "People Everywhere (Still Alive)" and "The Man Who Took My Sunglasses," both of which were tracks off of The Universe Travels Upon You. 

photo courtesy of Pabst/Riverside Theater Group

Next up, Chicano Batman took the stage to a warm reception from the audience, making their second Milwaukee appearance in the past three months.  The Los Angeles quartet, joined by two captivating instrumentalists and supporting singers, blended together a potpourri of Latin jazz, funk, soul and rock music.  Front man, Bardo Martinez is about as engaging performer as you'll find touring today.  At one point in the set he leapfrogged his keyboard rig, and at another point climbed up the band's speaker stack and jumped down to the stage while singing.  Chicano Batman has been riding a wave of success touring in support of their recent release, Freedom is Free.  A highlight of their set was the soulfully funky, "Angel Child."  In addition, bass player Eduardo Arenas cane to the front of the stage for a lifting version of "La Jura" sung in Spanish.  Current singles, "Freedom is Free" and "Friendship (Is A Small Boat in the Storm)" further captivated the audience and sent the enthusiastic crowd happy.  Based on the intensely engaging showmanship of Chicano Batman, I expect great things to come from this band in the future.  

photo courtesy of Pabst/Riverside Theater Group