Welcome to Ashley, The Handcuffs and I Lost Control Overall Show Welcome to Ashley Empty Bottle Chicago, IL February 12, 2010

What few people there were seemed more interested in talking in packs instead of watching the opening band playing in front of them. Confusing and sad since the first band to play was a quartet from our very-own Chicago that screams glam pop/rock, The Handcuffs. As a mix between Blondie and Bowie, girls clearly rock in this band. While their music was great and loud just like it should be, it was loud everywhere except for the mic. It was like watching TV on mute. Perhaps this explains why most of the crowd was talking to each other and drinking at the bar. It wasn't till I hit up their Myspace page a few days later that I knew what they were saying. If you listen to a band because of their lyrics, do not choose The Handcuffs, but if you listen to a band because they are raw, edgy, fun, and perfect for upping your serotonin levels, choose The Handcuffs. Their songs have already backed up pivotal teenage scenes on shows like 'Gossip Girls, and 'The Hills', and they were actually my personal favorite of the night.

This was not the case for the crowd however. There must have been an invisible fence about 10 feet in front of the stage, because for an hour, no one dared to venture that close. The next band on stage was I Lost Control. The first thing I noticed was the crowd actually turning forward and facing the stage and a big improvement from their previous gregariousness. Not to come out wrong, but the best way to describe this band, (well mostly the lead singer) was the character played by Hugh Grant in Music and Lyrics; a British sounding 80's pop has-been. From the beginning of the set, their pace was slow and their sound monotonous. The one person dancing and rolling around on the floor was more exciting than the music that had provoked him. Their lyrics, while mildly depressing and evoking thoughts of songs that teens would commit suicide to, were well thought out and put together. My favorite song of the set was 'Confliction', a collaborative effort of the band. This one actually had a beat faster than death. For some reason unbeknownst to me, I Lost Control was overall a crowd favorite. They cheered, shouted, and shook their way past the invisible fence in front of the stage.

Welcome to Ashley was a welcome relief. After the previous yawn-fest, I was able to look around and notice the crowd had more than doubled. The first sounds of the band were full and heavy, moving you the way music should. This was the only part of the 80s that should have been revived; punk. Coley Kennedy's heavy vibrato masterfully combined with the sounds emanating behind him. The crowd was literally going wild; more than one person was dancing, free of inhibitions, basking in the eclectic sounds of the band and sights of the venue. Kennedy danced across the stage, feeling his emotional lyrics as his sung them, infecting all those listening. The crowd was casting off their outer layers, rejecting jackets that impeded upon their full range of dancing mobility. People were actually touching the stage now, dancing with each other, and singing along to lyrics like, “I fell in love with you”. By the end of the night, 1/3 of the crowd was dancing and so was I. As soon as they finished, the crowd poured out, content with what they saw, having gotten what they came for.

I have to admit I attempted a meet and greet after the show, but Kennedy flitted from group to group, high on music and endorphins. Maybe next time I'll shake his hand...'sigh'. Meanwhile, keep an ear out for their new album - they started recording it last Saturday!

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