Chicago – I’m going to break some rules here. One being some first person talk and the other being an admission of bias. I love The Orwells! This is not just because like me they were born and bred in Illinois. They genuinely rock! Thanks to my fandom, I’ve discovered I also love LA bands Criminal Hygiene and Springtime Carnivore. The minute I heard The Orwells were playing a New Year’s Eve show at Lincoln Hall, I made it my mission to buy tickets because I knew it would be hands down THE best NYE show in Chicago. And it was quite the epic show, with three brilliant bands and two amazing DJs filling the night with non-stop music. In fact, I feel sorry for those in Chicago who managed to not find themselves ringing in the New Year while getting raunchy with The Orwells at the sold-out show.
As the lights began to dim, the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey started to play. The Orwells walked on stage and were met with a barrage of fanfare and a wash of green lights. Mario flashed his wicked smile and tossed a roll of toilet paper into the crowd. The room went crazy. So did members Mario Cuomo, Matt O’Keefe, Dominic Corso, Henry and Grant Brinner as they broke into “Southern Comfort.” Fans up front instantly began jumping up and down, including fellow Elmhurst rockers The Symposium, who had opened for their friends the night before at the all-ages show. Eventually they’d also form a mosh pit and crowd surf throughout the night to most of Disgraceland (Canvasback Music).
As expected, Mario put on one hell of a performance, with the usual stage diving, crowd surfing, swinging around his microphone, and slithering around stage. He ordered concertgoers to pop balloons like “the last time you popped a cherry” and told security guards to turn off their flashlights because they were distracting. He flipped the bird and yelled, “I’m trying to concentrate!” The guards had their hands full with the rowdy crowd all night. But honestly, isn’t the non-stop debauchery what makes an Orwells show so much fun?
Close to midnight Cuomo slurred into the mic, “It’s almost that time. Hope your year was great. Hope you got no STDs, DUIs, ABCs.” The guys then broke into “In My Bed,” off their debut album Remember When; a wonderful reminder of why we fell in love with The Orwells. Afterward, O’Keefe said, “That’s our last song of 2014!” Mario shouted, “Thanks for attending Pitbull’s New Year’s Special, brought to you by ABC.” Laughter spread as the band walked off stage, but they soon returned for the countdown, with champagne filled flutes in hand. After a toast and some genuine bromance, the guys thanked everyone for coming, and Cuomo told the crowd they were the coolest people in Chicago for spending the night with “the best band in Chicago.” He also made sure to acknowledge the youngsters who came out the night before, or as Mario put it, the “cool kids in training.” He seemed genuine in his awe for selling out the venue two nights in a row; a venue he’d been to as a teenager to see some of his favorite bands. The guys then got back to it, rocking in 2015 with “Blood Bubbles.”
For the encore, Cuomo came out with a thick strip of black tape across his mouth. The band broke into “Who Needs You.” Cuomo walked around stage, dangling the microphone cord around. The mic hovered over fans’ heads, as they shouted the lyrics out word for word. Later fans held Mario up high as he surfed the room, still holding onto the mic to catch people singing. The clever stunt was stunning to witness!
Criminal Hygiene started the night off with a bit of humor and their mix of garage rock and skater punk. The guys – guitarist and vocalist Michael Fiore, bassist and vocalist Michael Hiller, and drummer Sean “Bird Man” Erickson – toured earlier this year with their friends The Orwells. The former Featured Artists on Best New Bands also recently finished up a tour, supporting their Withdrawn EP, with Chicago band, Twin Peaks.
A few songs in and after wishing everyone a Happy New Year, Fiore said, “It’s been a shitty [year], but we like this place, even though it’s been warm as hell!” Laughter spread because the room full of Chicagoans knew that the Californians clearly weren’t loving the below zero wind chill. But no fear, the guys warmed the room up with songs like “Withdrawn” and “Rearrange Me,” which caused the kids up front to get a little wild and break a bit of a sweat.
Toward the end of the set Hiller announced, “We’re doing a switch-a-roo now.” He and Fiore switched places and instruments, then broke into “Turpentine.” Hiller killed it on guitar, proving to be an equal match to Fiore. Can’t wait to hear more from these guys, as rumor has it they’re hard at work on another LP.
Up next was Springtime Carnivore: the solo project of Greta Morgan Salpeter, who broke into the music scene with her Chicago band The Hush Sound. The psychedelic pop singer signed to The Orwells’ first label, Autumn Tone Records, and released her debut album this past fall. With her retro hairdo and sequined dress, Salpeter looked like a Motown goddess sent down from heaven. More dazzling then her sparkling get-up and smile was hearing her amazing vocals mixed with 60s & 70s inspired melodies. Salpeter and her band started the set with the catchy “Sun Went Black” and followed it with “Creature Feature.” Although most in the room were no doubt there to rock out to The Orwells, many bodies could be seen swaying to the beats, enjoying Springtime Carnivore’s lush pop songs.
Like the boys of Criminal Hygiene, Salpeter also brought the laughs. After asking, “Are you guys enjoying DJs Extra Sauce and Well Done?” she slyly laughed and said, “I’m not sure which, but I’m dating one of them!” Later in the night she inquired, “How many have thrown up on New Year’s Eve before?” Laughter and raised hands filled the venue. She chuckled, then proclaimed, “Tonight’s gonna be a good night!” Screams of approval echoed from the audience.
With just two songs left, Salpeter asked that everyone get all the balloons off the floor and up in the air. Multi-colored balloons began to float around the hall, as if they were dancing to the beat of “Keep Confessing.” Salpeter smiled and shouted, “Let’s keep it like this!” Sure enough, the balloons jumped up and down the rest of her set.
Stay up to date with The Orwells in 2015 by following the guys on facebook and twitter.
Photos By 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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