Capital Cities Made Chicago Dance

Capital Cities live

Chicago – On Friday night, Capital Cities started a massive dance party inside The Riviera that lasted well into the night. The LA electro-pop band has been performing with CHERUB and Night Terrors of 1927 on an epic North American tour sponsored by Xbox One and Forza Horizon 2. All three bands had Chicago jumping, singing, and dancing on bar tops.

Capital Cities started off as a project between jingle writers Ryan Merchant (vocals, keyboard, and guitar) and Sebu Simonian (vocals and keyboards). They met through a Craigslist ad in 2008 and between commercial gigs, the two started making upbeat synthpop. In 2011 they released a self-titled EP, featuring the international smash hit “Safe and Sound.” They quickly rose to Internet fame and began booking their own tours around South America and later in the U.S. They eventually signed with Capitol Records, and last year the Best New Bands featured artists released their debut album A Tidal Wave of Mystery. They’ve toured all around the world and this summer played Coachella, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Hangout Fest, and Lollapalooza before joining Katy Perry on The Prismatic World Tour.

The duo are supported on stage by bassist Manny Quintero, guitarist Nick Merwin, drummer Channing Holmes, and the amazing trumpeter Spencer Ludwig. The full band makes for an incredible live performance, reminiscent of spirited Motown performances. After starting the night off with “Tell Me How to Live,” Capital Cities ran through A Tidal Wave of Mystery, playing pretty much every track off the album. Before breaking into “Center Stage,” Merchant shouted, “What do you say we all do the Capital Cities shuffle? Take a small step to the left, a small step to the right, and cha-cha-cha!” Fans shuffled and clapped along.

Halfway through their set, Merchant and Simonian walked to the edge of the stage with plastic shopping bags in hand. They screamed, “Chicago, how you doing? We went shopping for you! Who wants a gift?” They passed out hair dryers, tennis balls for walkers, an In Touch magazine, and an Xbox game. For a moment the dancing stopped while laughter filled The Riviera.

The guys covered the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” Madonna’s “Holiday,” and Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” made famous by Sinéad O’Connor. During “I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo,” the guys held up cardboard stereos, imitating John Cusack in Say Anything. They demanded that the audience hold up their imaginary stereos. Arms went up and booties shook.

When Capital Cities played “Safe and Sound,” the room went wild! (Video courtesy of Evergig – see below.) There was not a single person in their seats up to the balcony. Afterwards, the band left the stage. People screamed, whistled, and cheered for what seemed like ages. When they finally came back out for an encore, they were bathed in darkness and stood in silence for a minute until they finally spoke: “Hello, hello! Oh stop it! Chicago this is amazing for us. This is amazing! What a beautiful evening and a beautiful theater! Now that we’re warmed up, are you warmed up?” Fans screamed, “Yeah!” Merchant said, “Then show me what you got!” Light burst from the stage, marking the start of an epic encore. The guys sang “Farrah Fawcett Hair.” People danced in the aisles and around the bars. One drunk guy got up on the back bar and danced to the bartender’s dismay.

The night ended with the “Safe and Sound” Cash Cash Remix. Merchant and Simonian said, “Chicago before we leave, take something, anything and wave it in the air!” Coats, hats, scarves, and t-shirts swung around like propellers while the packed room took in one final dance.

Night Terrors of 1927 live

Fellow Angelinos Jarrod Gorbel and Blake Sennett of Night Terrors of 1927 opened the night with their dark but dreamy indie pop. The duo and their touring band were fabulous live! Yes, they make indie pop, but on stage Jarrod and Blake are rockers through and through. (Perhaps once a rock star, always a rock star?) Both men were previously in other bands; Gorbel in The Honorary Title and Sennett in Rilo Kiley and The Elected. Their experience showed on stage and off. Sennett shredded his guitar above his head and while crawling around the stage floor. Gorbel jumped off stage to walk the pit, climbing the barricades, and singing to the fans up front. The veteran performers played their single “When You Were Mine” and other songs off the EP Anything To Anyone (Atlantic Records).

Night Terrors of 1927 also played some oldies off their first EP Guilty Pleas and a cover of The Romantics’ “Talking In Your Sleep.” Stay tuned for Best New Bands’ upcoming interview with Jarrod of Night Terrors of 1927!

Nashville duo CHERUB created a mini rave in the old theater with their soul and funk infused electro-pop that they’ve dubbed as “Prince on ecstasy.” Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber have been making the masses dance since 2010. With several EPs under their belts, this summer the long-time friends finally released their debut full-length Year of the Caprese (Columbia Records), which features the latest single “<3” and chart topper “Doses and Mimosas.”

Earlier this year, CHERUB stopped by Chicago’s House of Blues on the BLOW’d TOUR with Chicago rapper ProbCause, so this time around the wild guys had plenty of fans in the room, all of whom came ready to party. Men pumped their fists, while ladies screamed, “I love you!” Kelley repeatedly replied, “I love you, too!”

Cherub live

CHERUB were a delight to see live. Between their humorous banter and stage presence, there was never a dull moment. The twosome continuously demonstrated their musical talent, showing that dance music sounds just as amazing, if not more, when made with actual instruments. They also brought out Spencer Ludwig to show off his skills on trumpet, filling the venue with cheers. CHERUB’s cover of Calvin Harris’ “Feel So Close” brought cheers, too. Strobe lights flashed and people jumped crazily up and down, dripping in sweat and covered in smiles.

You can join in on the dance party by seeing Capital Cities live. They are currently on tour in North America and soon will be touring South America. Click HERE for tour dates.
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More on Evergig: Founded in June 2012 by Arthur Dagard, Guillaume Jouannet and Nicolas Lapomarda, evergig.com is the ultimate platform for collaborative on-demand concert video – by the fans and for the fans, all around the globe. With hundreds of thousands of users, and more than one million live videos, Evergig gives fans of all genres the opportunity to relive their favorite concerts.

 

Sarah Hess

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.
Sarah Hess

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