Chicago continues to impress and inspire me with venues like SPACE in Evanston. It is a nice intimate location with a niche crowd small enough to where you can come and reserve a table, claim a seat, or just comfortably stand. It seems to be Chicago’s standard layout - a restaurant/ bar separate from some sort of music space in the back. It seems to be working for them.
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Cracker
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SPACE
Evanston, IL
February 16, 2010
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Also, the acts that SPACE books are talented enough where they can charge a minimum of $20 for all their shows, but I feel the acts are just unknown enough that the crowds stay modest. I must mention that there is careful consideration to sound here with acoustic treatment on the walls, and lighting fixtures that resemble acoustic clouds to further enhance the audio experience. No earplugs necessary here.
My memory of the night began with Brandi Shearer (this was around the time of my first beer!) an intimate singer-songwriter whose set was full of break up songs done in a folk country kind of twang. Finger picking drone-y textures set the foundation for her to belt about finding and losing love. Songs with hooks like, “I want you out!” “Old and Lonely,” or, “No one sings lullabies no more,“ are actually empowering in that, “I am woman, hear me roar,” sort of way.
She has a cute and simple presence. Her background as an Oregon farmer comes through with a dry sense of humor reminding me of an Ingrid Michelson type of set. After all, something’s got to carry them from song to song and fill in all those awkward silences. For example, as she was re-tuning for one song, she joked, “When you tune, it’s kind of like awkward first dates.”
At moments during her last song, the saddest of the night, she steps into certain lighting where I spotted a very old and pained side of her. I feel she’s lived a long life of heartache, sacrifice, and difficulties. It is very poetic the way she clings to her music!
Cracker then took the stage after a brief intermission. They had a big full sound for two guitars and two vocalists that went along with their big presence. They’re fairly big dudes too! I asked Johnny Hickman (lead guitarist) earlier, “Why are you playing a duo show instead of with the whole band?” He answered, “It just feels good to get back to the very core of our songs, which are for the most part based around the musical conversation between David's singing and my guitar playing. We don't do the duo shows nearly as often so it is also something the fans really look forward to as well.”
And the fans did appreciate it! For a band who just sold out a tour of Spain, it’s quite humbling to see them do a cozy duo set. SPACE was the perfect atmosphere for them to do it in. As for their show, well… first of all, not many bands can boast a 20-year career as they can.
It’s amazing that you can really feel that type of experience, in their confidence, humble personalities, and presence. I’ve rarely come across bands that have made me feel in such a way beyond description as Cracker did. By this time I was on my third or fourth beer.
Their well-arranged songs kept the music surprisingly fresh despite it only being a duo set. David Lowery’s “smart-ass gene,” filled in the transitions. Lyrics like, “What the world needs now, is some words of wisdom like la, la, la, la,” showed off their sense of humor however delivered with a melancholy pathos, moments of pained aggression, sadness, and fatigue. Johnny Hickman took a break from lead guitar to pick up lead vocals here and there. He was perhaps a little soft-spoken compared to David Lowery, but was no less convincing in his vocals. His impressive lead guitar textures and clever electronic bass drum kicks effectively completed the compelling musical dialogue between him and Lowery.
Chicago has a lot of things going for them, and one thing I’ve noticed is that the audience can be a little subdued when it comes to live music. I would have been very interested in moving my body to this music. I believe they call it dancing. (I was on my fifth beer by this time) Some musicians want their audience to move, emotionally and physically. It’s like visual confirmation of that connection. Although the older crowd was completely satisfied just sitting and listening, which is beautiful in its own way as well.
You’ve done it again Chicago, with this little unknown corner of a venue. My head bows to you Cracker along with my respect and admiration. Hopefully the many more years of music to come will age as well as your career.
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