Chicago – Nashville rockers Bully played Tomorrow Never Knows Fest for the second year in a row, and yet again, they kicked ass! Last year the foursome supported Cloud Nothings. This year it was METZ, who they had been touring the East Coast with. I could definitely become used to Bully becoming a TNK staple! Given that frontwoman Alicia Bognanno has stated the Windy City is her favorite city, surely she’d be down for that, too. Chicagoans proved their love for Bully – and METZ too – by selling out the Metro in Wrigleyville. Excited fans crammed in tight on the ground floor, including die-hard fan Steve Sikora, who can be seen at almost every Bully show in the Midwest. The balconies upstairs filled in too, making for standing room only in most parts. Metz popped in the VIP section to see Bully perform, as did some of the members of Twin Peaks and other local bands, like Local H.

Fans upstairs and down screamed and hollered at Bognanno’s words of affection: “I love you,” “You rock!” Alicia cracked a half smile, blushing under her bleached hair. While tuning, she chatted with the crowd. At one point she sadly said, “This is our last show with Metz. Can we get a group ‘aw’?” The room echoed drowned out awws. Though, locals feeling sad for the band were surely also feeling delighted at the news Bognanno shared with the audience. Alicia said she hoped to be back in Chicago soon, telling the audience earlier in the day she was looking for apartments and practice spaces on Craigslist. She joked she was tired of Nashville, but given she recorded the band’s debut album Feels Like in Chicago at Steve Albini’s studio, Electrical Audio, perhaps a move back to Chicago is in the works to record Bully’s sophomore album? Fingers crossed!

The band has been writing new songs, though they’ve found it tough on the road. Bully played a new, not yet titled tune early in the night. They also played my personal faves “Too Tough” and “Trash,” as well as singles “Milkman,” “Brainfreeze,” and “Trying.” Arms and hair flew in the air most of the night, moving to the beat set not by Stewart Copeland, but rather by replacement drummer Tyler Coburn. Word on street is Copeland is just sitting this tour out… we’ll see what develops. Guitarist Clayton Parker was a ball of energy, thrashing around stage, jumping up and down, and occasionally throwing himself to the floor, all while strumming fiery riffs. Bassist Reece Lazarus jerked his head, his curly hair flying in time. Bognanno’s raspy voice powerfully screeched her brutally honest lyrics, most of which the majority of fans now know by heart and can belt out along with her. Over the summer, Bully sat down for an interview with Best New Bands, and Bognanno said her truthfulness in writing “makes it easy to show energy and emotion during a live set because it’s not bullshit.” That’s what makes Bully so great. No frills. No BS. Just awesome music made by awesome people.

Before Bully nailed it and before the crazy crowd surfing that ensued during METZ, Chicago band Slow Mass started the night out very, very loudly. But in a good way, of course. The post-hardcore band has been making plenty of noise around these parts, winning praise from many in the local music community. The band is no stranger to Chicago’s DIY scene, with members coming from various bands. Bassist and vocalist Mercedes Webb was in Morning Arms, Drummer Josh Sparks and guitarist Josh Parks play in Into It. Over It., and well, guitarist and vocalist Dave Collis is a Chicago staple.

Slow Mass has been recording an EP that will be released later this year, but if you’re in the Chicago area, the band is selling homemade CD sandwiches on white or wheat. You can also check out their YouTube recordings of “Nice But Not Kind” and “Portals to Hell.”

Bully is on tour now. They’ll also be playing Hangout Fest, Sasquatch!, Governors Ball, and Forecastle this coming festival season. A full list of tour dates can be found on Bully’s Facebook page. Feels Like is available for purchase on iTunes.

Check out more of our coverage TNK coverage, featuring All Them Witches!

Photo by Sarah Hess for Best New Bands

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Sarah Hess

At the age of six, Sarah Hess discovered True Blue by Madonna. This resulted in her spending hours in front of the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush microphone, belting out "La Isla Bonita" off key. Her love for music only intensified over the years thanks to her parents; her mother exposed Sarah to The Jackson Five and had her hustling to the Bee Gees, while her father would play her albums like 'Pet Sounds' and 'Some Girls' from start to finish, during which he'd lecture on and on about the history of rock & roll. Sarah would eventually stumble upon rap and hip-hop, then punk and alternative, and fall madly in love with Jeff Buckley and film photography.

After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.


You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.

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