July Talk Turn The Stage into Art

Chicago – Real talk: I saw one of the best shows of my life the other night. When I’m old and gray, and looking back on my most memorable musical moments, I know that July Talk will make my top ten list for the greatest live performances. Now, I had heard that Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay put on a remarkable show, but when I walked into the Beat Kitchen on Thursday night, I really had no idea how blown away I would be by these Canadians. From the moment the lights dimmed, until Dreimanis and Fay walked off the stage with Ian Docherty, Josh Warburton and Danny Miles – their amazing band mates – I was completely captivated by July Talk. The combination of Dreimani and Fay’s spectacular voices and crazy stage antics, along with the band’s mix of blues, punk, and rock with the occasional taste of country, Motown, and dance create one stellar performance.

Peter stood tall, warmly lit by the glow of stage lights, staring down at Leah, who was in the audience, standing directly in front of him. He stared her down, as he began to sing, with his deep throaty voice: “I went walking in the garden. I was tripping on snakes. Now, I ain’t asking for your loving, I’m just asking what your love is gonna take.” Leah playfully grinned and made her way onto the stage. She sensually crawled around while singing and locking eyes with Peter, whose growls and howls were met with hoots and hollers. While Ian shredded his guitar, Peter and Leah toyed around, pushing and clawing at one another, even getting in a few slaps and bites.

Peter’s husky voice paired splendidly with the sweetness of Leah’s as they sang the bass heavy song “Don’t Let Her Know.” Ian and Danny had people dancing around the room with the infectious beats coming from their keyboards and drums. A sea of smiles filled the tiny venue.

The band played a new song – the title was undisclosed – that they were feeling out. Peter told me in an interview that they make it a point to test new songs on the road before recording. In relation to that, Leah said, “The stage is like a shared art studio where we’re able to generate material and get messy.” During the song, Leah jumped into the crowd, giving out hugs, and slow danced with one very happy woman. All of this pleased the fans up front. When the song finished, she told the audience, “Put your hand up if you didn’t like that song and never want to hear it again.” Not a single hand could be spotted hovering in the air. Instead hands were seen fiercely clapping, filling the room with applause, as people screamed, “We loved it! We love you!”

Throughout the night, people left shots of whiskey on the stage. Leah grabbed them one by one, passing them on to Peter, Ian, Josh, and Danny, but before each pass, she sipped a little out of each glass for what she declared as her “ delivery tax.” At one point, she noticed that Peter had cut himself. She insisted that he dip his finger in his whiskey to disinfect it. Peter quipped, “But I’d rather drink it!” He chugged it down and let his finger bleed. Leah poured another shot on Peter’s head. As the night wore on and empty glasses piled up, Leah grabbed two shot glasses, placed them over her eyes, and joked that she had whiskey goggles.

During their set, Leah noticed me scribbling down musings of the night. She made eye contact, walked over, flashed a big smile, and politely asked me to hand over my notepad. I couldn’t say no to this jest, so I gave it up as everyone set their eyes upon us. She went back on stage, and Peter drew close. She said to him, “Do you wanna know what’s in here?” She flipped through my notations, announcing that everything I had jotted down was good. I declared, “You must do wrong for me to say something bad!” Indeed, I had not a critical word for July Talk. Reviewing my entries, I find only praise: “Leah is completely captivating. She takes you to a magical place – you almost forget where you are.” You become lost in their world, relishing every moment of the breathtaking spectacle; from Peter and Leah’s flirtatious banter to their dancing, Leah’s thrusting with mic stands and climbing all over the stage and audience, and Peter’s wicked lyrical confessions sang with his guttural yet seductive voice, you find yourself in awe.

Before ending their set with “Paper Girl,” Leah asked if anyone had seen her shoes. (She had thrown them into the crowd earlier in the night.) A young lady walked up, glossy black heels in hand, and gently placed a shoe on Fay as she held out her foot like a rock star version of a Disney princess.

Before July Talk took the stage, local band Black Bear Brown Bear warmed up the crowd with their fun dance driven indie-pop. These Chicago guys are becoming known as much for their entertaining and dynamic shows as they are for their humor. This recently turned six piece consists of Art Arredondo, Anthony Baier, Nick Blaul, Paul Munda, Sergio Santillan, and the band’s newest addition of Timi Walsh. The band has been riding high since releasing their self-produced debut album Good Luck, which the boys recorded in Munda’s basement slash rehearsal space slash studio. Black Bear Brown Bear create impressive beats with two drummers, wonderful melodies with multiple guitars, and a dance explosion with their use of syths and keys. The band has been compared to a mix of Vampire Weekend, Modest Mouse, and The Talking Heads, but that said, their sound is unique and hard to pigeonhole. Songs like “Muscles,” “Sitcoms,” and “I Don’t Know” showcase their enticing sound and feature witty lyrics that astutely analyze growing up blue-collar, what it means to be a twenty-something navigating your way in a shitty economy, and the search for happiness while examining the bigger picture.

Leah and Peter have truly made music an art form. Keep an eye out on Facebook for a July Talk show near you. They’ll soon be headed to Europe to promote their self-titled debut album, but Peter hinted that they’ll be back for another North American tour. Black Bear Brown Bear are in the process of scheduling some Midwest tour dates for late Spring and early Summer, but in the mean time, if you like what you hear, Good Luck is available for purchase on iTunes.

(All photos by Sarah Hess: smhimaging.com)

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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.