HOLYCHILD and MØ Made Tuesday Tantalizing

Holychild live

Chicago – Let’s face it, weekday concerts are usually a bit subdued, but HOLYCHILD and MØ proved that a Tuesday night in Chicago can seem like a Saturday night in Vegas if you’ve got all the right moves. Liz Nistico of Holychild and Karen Marie Ørsted – aka – danced, jumped, and skipped all over Concord Music Hall. MØ even took in some crowd surfing and bar dancing, Coyote Ugly style.

I discovered Holychild awhile back thanks to instagram. Their colorful photos drew me in, but Holychild’s music really caught my attention. Liz Nistico and Louie Diller make up this artsy pop duo slash touring foursome. In 2011 Nistico and Diller met at George Washington University in Washington, DC. They started making music together, Nistico spent a few months in New York, the two reunited, and then they traveled to LA to bring Holychild to life. In the process, they made some killer youtube videos, turned down a few record deals, and raided plenty of thrift stores. Eventually the two emerged with their quirky “brat pop,” signed with Glassnote, and released their debut EP MINDSPEAK.

The front row was packed with kids singing along to Holychild’s tunes. Pretty impressive for an opening act! Though, once you take a listen to Holychild, it’s understandable that the young band has already gained a following. Songs like “Diamonds on the Rebound,” “Every Time I Fall,” and “Playboy Girl” feature fun and intricate beats with smart and refreshing lyrics.

Holychild have charisma and spunk. Nistico danced atop the speakers in her palm tree covered tank top while singing “Happy With Me.” When she leaned in close to high-five fans, a collection of screams from the ladies up front muffled the music for a moment. Nistico smiled gleefully. Both Nistico and Diller’s faces were filled with excitement all night. It was clear these two love to perform. They were also stoked to be playing in Chicago. Nistico said, “Two years ago I started this project with Louie. We passed through Chicago on our way to LA and thought this city is pretty cool. It’s really cool to be back, playing here for the first time.”

Nistico also revealed that Holychild is in the process of recording their first LP. They played three new songs: “Running Behind,” “Money All Around,” and “Plastered Smile.” The new material had a Calypso drum-line feel, making use of three drummers at times, enough to make any high school marching band swoon. Also note-worthy was Holychild’s décor. Between the pink feathered boa laced drum kit, silver wrapped keys and toms, and Nistico’s Adidas track suit, fluffy pink earrings, and platform sneakers, it was a glittery 90s time warp. Speaking of the 90s, Holychild did a little mashup of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” and Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name.” The room ate it up!

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I last saw MØ when she performed at Lincoln Hall back in May. She blew me away! I didn’t think the Danish singer could top that performance, but she did. Her vocals and dance moves, the band, the energy: I’ve never seen a pop show quite like it. Perhaps it’s due to her years spent rocking out in the punk band MOR, or maybe that’s just how Karen Marie Ørsted rolls. She seems to genuinely be herself on stage. She’s not flashy. She doesn’t dress like most pop stars, yet she stands out. Her personality shines through, and you can’t help but love her. Or sing along. Fans were singing word for word to “Glass,” “Pilgrim,” and “Walk This Way,” off the album No Mythologies To Follow.

In what has become her signature move, MØ jumped into the crowd and found her way to the bar, where she danced and sang to the crowd. After a few verses, she jumped off the counter and ran into the crowd. Flashes of lights from cell phones twinkled, shining on MØ like a disco ball as she danced in the middle of the room, encircled by excited fans.

Fans made it clear they wanted more when MØ left the stage. She came back out screaming, “Chicago!” Her two song encore included her Spice Girls cover “Say You’ll Be There.” The masses jumped along with MØ. The floor wobbled. Then cheers erupted as the nostalgia train rode in.

Holychild is currently on tour with MØ. At the end of October they’ll be playing the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas. Click HERE for tour dates. You can purchase MINDSPEAK and No Mythologies To Follow on iTunes.

Photos by Sarah Hess: smhimaging.com

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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