Unless you’re a Chicago Theater buff, you may have not heard of the Chopin Theater. However, Tony Rusniak of Dedicated Ears is hoping to make known this quaint and intimate little venue as a place for live music. In the untapped area around Ashland and Division, the space is lush, romantic, decadent and red. The look is like a warm historical Victorian era, Versailles –esque type of space with a small theater covered in a dusty fog on the first floor. You’ll want to check out the basement lounge, which feels like someone’s home, where the music was happening. From acts like David Safran, Brendan Losch, and Pretty Little Empire, it was a night full of subtle self-reflection and moments that touched the corners of our inner sadness.
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Pretty Little Empire, Brendan Losch, David Safran
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Chopin Theater
Chicago, IL
May 8, 2010
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Safran opened the set with a jazz/vaudevillian singing style that channeled moments of a deep David Bowie. He had some pretty good musicians backing him up too. There was a guitarist who Sanfran made sure to make known that he was from France, a keyboard player who also traveled between bass and guitar, and a solid drummer with Middle-Eastern frame drum and djembe tendencies. The band was solid, and after I got over the acquired taste of Sanford’s deep dramatic voice, it started to grow on me while the crowd was already digging it.
Their sound had moments of the Beatles’ sweetness along the lines of, “Let it Be” with some reserved guitar playing traveling through rock, jazz, and psychedelia. Safran delivered reflective story-telling ballads that felt like I should be listening to them while contemplatively looking out of a train window or something. Some songs were about love, “One more pleasure, one more disgrace,” and other songs were more specific, “There’s nothing like sex to ruin the sense of intimacy.” How does he turn that line into convincing lyrics with music? Well, you’ll just have to look him up and take a listen.
At about 11:20pm, Losch took the stage. It took a few songs before the crowd warmed up to his atmospheric Sigur Ros type of sound. His music was hopeful framed in a lonely and perhaps depressing way to get you in touch with your sensitive side. “If you don’t see me, you won’t miss me,” was one line that I remembered. To experience his sound collectively with the concentrated silence of the full room full was quite empowering actually. It was very refreshing! My one criticism would have to be that he rides on good grooves and ends far before they’re ready to be over. Times when the lyrics ended, I really would have liked some instrumentals to take their place, or maybe Losch was just trying to leave us wanting more.
The feature of the night, Pretty Little Empire from St. Louis, proudly played to their fans. For the first time of the night, people danced to music. However not absent of the self-reflecting vibe of the rest of the night. They had a big presence in their presentation. Heavy punk influenced beats to folk country songs showed off their range.
I’m touched when I look around and beautiful girls are nodding their heads with their eyes closed while they mouth the lyrics. Their audience was younger, however it was nice to see the older people from Losche and Sanfran stick around for Pretty Little Empire. Their songs were more youthful however retaining some self-loathing lyrics like “I’m not ready, nothing to show.” I didn’t know the band previously or their songs, so I can’t say I really understood what they were singing about. Vocals would get a little muddy down there, however the band was very nice and balanced.
The night made it seem like the feelings which we are often afraid to admit to and more afraid to indulge in public places were ok. In fact with the Dedicated Ears crowd and music, it was quite cozy, and I’m going to keep a look out for their next show in June!
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