Chicago – Last week, Londoner Eliot Sumner made a stop at Schubas, in Chicago, during a mini North American tour, before heading to Austin, Texas for South By South West. Sumner, who is the daughter of Sting and Trudie Styler, released the debut album Information, this past January. Though, debut is a loose term. Sumner, who previously went by the nickname Coco, has been making music since childhood. At the age of seventeen, Eliot Sumner signed with Island Records, and in 2010, Sumner’s band, I Blame Coco, released the album The Constant. The pop album received mixed reviews from critics. Since then, Sumner has definitely matured both as a musician and as a person. In finding herself, Sumner left I Blame Coco behind, formed a new band, and began performing under her birth name. In 2014, Eliot Sumner unleashed this change with the Information -EP. Inspired by krautrock, Sumner mixed rock and electronic music. For the most part, Sumner skipped the high notes and instead showcased her deep, mesmerizing, raspy vocals. This sound only intensified on the full-length, Information.
I last saw Eliot Sumner perform at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall, back in September. I’ll be honest in saying then I was more curious to see if Sumner would indeed sound like her rock star father. She did. Though, Sumner definitely is her own artist, and I’m sure the musician is tired of constant comparisons to her father; though, in an interview with Evening Standard, Sumner said that living in the shadow of famous parents is okay, and what’s truly important is making music to be proud of. Sumner can definitely be proud. From the moment the set started with “Dead Arms & Dead Legs,” fans cheered, sang, and moved to the rhythm of Sumner’s bass lines. Fans especially went crazy for “I Followed You Home.” Sumner was fantastic. And fun! Eliot Sumner and the members of the band were smiling and dancing along with the audience. It was as if everyone left their troubles at the door, and for the night, fans, the band, and Sumner hadn’t a care in the world, as they sang, “Yes, I followed, I followed you back home, and if I could have done it again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Afterward, Sumner thanked the crowd with a “cheers” and raised a bottle of beer. Fans raised their glasses and hollered. Sumner smiled, then chugged. The night was filled with songs from Information. The majority of fans knew the words to every song. The single “After Dark” had couples dancing together. “Halfway To Hell” had members of the audience jumping around, with arms in the air. The crowd was an interesting mix. A few twenty-somethings hung out up front. Men and women in their thirties danced and drank the night away. What I found most interesting was the amount of middle-aged fans, particularly men, who filled up the music hall, and that it was the middle-aged men who were the rowdiest of the bunch! I should probably disclose the last few shows I attended were filled with screaming teenagers, so that definitely contributed to the “wow” factor… but given that Sumner is twenty-five, I still find it rather impressive that the singer is able to pull in such a diverse crowd. Though, Eliot Sumner does seem wise beyond years, and most musicians of Sumner’s age, especially American musicians, aren’t creating the type of rock Eliot Sumner is. That is equally as impressive.
Eliot Sumner definitely had more confidence on stage compared to the last show at Schubas’ sister venue, Lincoln Hall. There Sumner took some time to loosen up. This time, the musician was at once fired up. Plus, the whole band sounded more cohesive. Given the band recently spent time on the road in Europe, it’s safe to say the constant performing strengthened the foursome’s act. As I watched Eliot Sumner bring the room to life, I couldn’t help but think perhaps one day Sumner will outshine her father’s musical fame, and maybe, one day, Eliot Sumner will be selling out arenas, too.
Eliot Sumner will be performing at South By South West. See a list of dates and times below. Head over to the Eliot Sumner Facebook page for a complete list of upcoming performances. Information is available for purchase on iTunes.
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Photo credit: Sarah Hess
Sarah Hess
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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