Echo and the Bunnymen, one of the finest post punk rock bands from the 80’s, played Chicago’s Vic Theatre as part of their brief US tour, performing their first two albums back to back. Despite being critically acclaimed albums, “Crocodiles” released in 1980, and “Heaven Up Here” from 1981, are not so well known beyond their hard-core fan base. Especially compared to the later songs that launched the band into mainstream status. Still, the band managed to fill out the 3,000 capacity venue on a Tuesday night show.
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Echo and the Bunnymen
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The Vic
Chicago, IL
May 18, 2011
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Led by its two original members, the famously nicotine addicted front man Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant, the band did not have a smooth start. Sporting the usual trench coat and dark sunglasses, Ian McCulloch was properly equipped to endure the deceiving pitch black venue and its obnoxious bright strobe lights. However, he was probably not expecting to encounter all the sound issues that would plague their concert that night.
It all started with a mic issue when the band took the stage. Ian’s voice echoed (no pun intended) as a horrid wheezing sound throughout the venue. The lyrics of the show’s opener, “Going Up”, were quickly replaced by Ian pleading “fix the microphone…fix the microphone…fix the microphone…”
Unfortunately for the band they were playing for an older, rowdy audience of smart aleck, unforgiving hardcore fans. As the show progressed and the sound difficulties continued, McCulloch’s challenging accent from Northern England made it even more frustrating as he attempted to communicate with the audience. At some point, a fan shouted “speak in English.” He did not miss the opportunity to address that with “I speak very good English. I speak very clear English,” in other words, “Stop messing with me”.
As the band performed hits from the first album “Rescue”, “All That Jazz” and “Do It Clean”, it was obvious that Ian’s voice remains untouchable and Will Sergeant’ lead guitar is still enthralling. They closed the first set with the anthem “Bring on the Dancing Horses”, interrupted half way thru by Ian imploring, “I’m not feeling it.” The band picked it up again and delivered a noticeably more upbeat version with the support of a singing along crowd.
After a brief break, Ian’s mood seemed to have improved a lot. During the set for “Heaven up Here”, the audience also started responding to his blabber in a more positive manner. Either that or everyone got used to the on and off wheezing sound shadowing Ian’s voice throughout the night. “Switching mics is so last set” answered Ian as a fan in the first row begged him to switch mics again.
Ian was not short of jokes and stories to share in between the second set’s throbbing performances. James Brown’s “Sex Machine” and Lou Reed’s “Walk in the Wild Side” were again intertwined with their own tunes, while “Over The Wall” “The Disease” and “Zimbo” were especially welcomed by the loud, dancing crowd. The band closed the night with two encores, playing “Killing Moon”, “The Cutter” and “Lips Like Sugar”.
At the end, it did not seem to matter if their sound guy was not on the ball, the mic did not work, or if the venue’s acoustics were terrible. Supported by an entourage of solid musicians (drummer, keyboard, bass and a second guitar player), Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant delivered nothing less than another great performance. I doubt anyone in the crowd left the concert feeling cranky. As for Ian McCulloch, I can only speculate that he must have been dying all night to light up a cigarette.
* Photos taken at the Coachella Music Festival on 4/16/10 by BARRY BRECHEISEN
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