In The Loop Magazine’s Year End Review: The Great Dumpster Fire That Was 2020

Dec 18, 2020 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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We all know 2020 was the worst year on record for the entertainment industry. Live music was especially hit hard as musicians couldn’t tour to share new music, reach new audiences and earn their bread and butter. We did get about two and a half months of live music at the beginning of the year, but after mid March, WHAM! All of our favorite clubs, music venues, festivals and more closed down for (what we would learn months later) the year. Fortunately, like all intelligent creatures, we found new ways to communicate to each other and share the love of music. This came in the form of streaming media sessions on the likes of Twitch and YouTube, then one on one meetings with artists as they did online virtual meet n greets through Zoom and of course new music could still be released through the usual outlets like Bandcamp, Apple Music and other online retailers. So, we weren’t completely stamped out, but it sure feels like a good smothering if nothing else as human interactions were limited to just a few outdoor drive in style concerts, drive around truck beds and occasional outdoor patio viewings.

Despite all that, we still did get some amazing music. Albeit a little harder to come by, if you looked hard enough and listened to others, you could find out some true hidden gems.

Here at In The Loop Magazine, each year, we discuss our favorites. These are our favorite concerts, albums, videos and events, but now will include what we saw as some of the best online events, concerts and performances as well.

Our staff picks for 2020.

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James Currie

For me, 2020 was a mix bag of tricks. I saw live concerts from January to March that were pretty good but coming to a complete stop was a shock to the system. I need live music in my life. I’ve been going to concerts since I was 10 years old with my parents and 16 on my own ever since. I’m one of those people who truly feed off the sounds, the crowds and interactions.

To keep my passions going, I’ve moved to online for everything. This includes concerts, festivals, interviews, reviews, music videos and purchases. I’ve actually been able to build up my vinyl record collection with music I’ve been wanting for years as well as a slue of new special edition album releases from some of my favorites.

Play it safe folks. Mask Up. Here’s to 2021!

In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite things that 2020 had to offer:

Top Albums of the year (in alphabetical order):

• AC/DC – Power Up
• Bellhead – Unicorn Bones
• Bronson – Bronson
• Bruce Springsteen – Letter To You
• Chris Stapleton – Starting Over
• Deftones – Ohms
• Grimes – Miss Anthropocene
• Idles- Ultra Mono
• Kvelertak – Splid
• Kylie Minogue- Disco
• Paul McCartney – McCartney III
• Posehn – Grandpa Metal
• Run The Jewels – RTJ4
• Soccer Mommy – Color Theory
• The Flaming Lips – American Head

Best Concerts, Events & Streams of the Year:

• Cold Waves Festival 2020 @ Twitch
• Heilung @ The Riviera Theatre
• Lollapalooza 2020 @ YouTube
• Robinson Brothers (Black Crowes) @ Lincoln Hall
• Tove Lo @ The Riviera Theatre

#saveourstages #saveourstagesact #niva #chicagomusic #localloop #independantmusic #covidconcerts

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Bobby Talamine

Have tried off and on to come to grips with my review of the past year, everything going as per usual as far as working live shows and producing reviews, before everything literally falling off a cliff for me after Wednesday March 4th, which was my last time covering a show for In The Loop, which was Cult of Luna with Emma Ruth Rundle and Intronaut from the House of Blues Chicago.

At least it was cool going out with a bang with this show, a band worthy of your utmost attention with Cult of Luna, and the praise heaped throughout this year with Emma Ruth Rundle and her latest release: “May Our Chambers Be Full”, a collaboration with Thou, which has made quite a few Best of Metal for 2020 lists.

And how many shows did I cover total for 2020? Sadly, a total of nine.

Of the nine, some extraordinary nuggets of outright memorable beauty, starting with experimental folk music stalwarts Heilung, who looked and felt like they came to Chicago right out of the Bronze/ Iron and Viking ages of the past. Easily one of the best shows of the year, even if I was up to my usual 75 to 100 shows a year. Same with John Cale at the Art Institute of Chicago, Cale performing at the end of The Art Institute’s Andy Warhol exhibit back in late January.

Such a riveting performance with Cale, in the intimate Rubloff Auditorium, hanging on his every word, and immersed in his iconic presence.
Was amazing to photograph and review deadmau5 twice, bookending this oh- so- weird year – first with his massive new Cube V3 at the packed Navy Pier back on February 1st, and then the last show I photographed this year over Halloween weekend with a Drive Inn concert in Seatgeek’s stadium west facing parking lot. Both shows with Joel Zimmerman equally unique and worthy of review in so many ways- the first being a celebration of EDM in a massive indoor complex at the east end of Navy Pier back on 2/1, and then the inevitable outcome of an unruly pandemic- an outdoor socially distant spaced show from a gigantic parking lot, in the cold, with no deadmau5 cube, but still sophisticated with giant LED screens in sync with Joel’s beats.

Interspersed before the inevitable end of photographing shows of any sort- The Empty Bottle’s “Music Frozen Dancing”, with a barn burning outdoor performance in the middle of winter in the late afternoon with Seth Sher and Heather Gabel of HIDE- a band as incendiary no matter where they decide to play, no matter the uncomfortable conditions. Another transfixing performance, with Heather working the stage like a caged animal, and music that is bone rattling and trailblazing.

Another awesome show was at House of Vans in the West Loop on Valentine’s Day with none other than Lamb of God, and as volatile as ever, with lead vocalist Randy Blythe menacingly commanding the stage as always, with his usual gigantic leaps coming close to touching the lighting rig of the House of Vans stage.

But dealing with COVID- 19 and this pandemic in general throughout most of this year- it feels like all the energy and communal spirit of live performance has been sucked out of the room, with no end in sight, vaccine or no vaccine. Have tried to come to grips with this off and on since mid March, even to the point of producing live videos on this very subject through my Facebook page, chronologically coming to grips with weekly cancellations of major festivals and indoor shows, all falling like dominos in creeping and descending order, each show you were looking forward to landing with a thud and another punch to the gut. And to top it off, it being an election year, and having to come to grips with an oh so flawed president, and an administration that has been just so laughable and inept in every which way possible- let’s just say that to survive this, and to get this far (knock on wood) unscathed, makes you grieve for the sickened and the one’s who passed away. And on top of that- losing Neil Peart and Eddie Van Halen this year, along with so many others- it’s just been so unrelenting with the scourge and nastiness that is 2020.

In my opinion, going into 2021, even with a new administration that brings a sigh of relief and a breath of fresh air- not much is going to change with shows in general going into mid to late 2021, even then. Don’t get your hopes up folks. Yes, my glass is half empty at the the moment. Too much is at stake to simply open up the doors and start producing shows, even socially distanced shows for that matter.

Having said that, there’s still been a cavalcade of releases that are worthy of your attention in all genres of music this year. Hard for me to choose and to attempt to whittle the list down to a select few, since what I’ve picked overall- most of these albums have been on repeat for me since their release date. Had originally selected thirty albums worthy of review, whittled down to twenty.

So here goes, in no particular order, all tied for first in my opinion:

– Jehnny Beth- To Love is to Live
– Hum- Inlet
– Idles- Ultra Mono
– Bob Dylan- Rough and Rowdy Ways
– Ganser- Just Look at that Sky
– Code Orange- Underneath
– Run the Jewels- RTJ 4
– Mr. Bungle- The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny
– SAULT (Two different releases): Untitled (Black Is), and Untitled (Rise)
– ….And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead- The Godless Void and Other Stories
– Fleet Foxes- Shore
– Bootblacks- Thin Skies
– Rina Sawayama- Sawayama
– Enslaved- Utgard
– Phoebe Bridgers- Punisher
– Deftones- Ohm
– Cabaret Voltaire- Shadow of Fear
– Grimes- Mrs. Anthropocene
– Sparks- A Steady Drip Drip Drip
– Imperial Triumphant- Alphaville
– Fontaines D C- A Hero’s Wrath.

There’s more, obviously, with Chris Stapleton, Lady Gaga, AC/ DC, Riki, The New Division to add a few.

So yes, to put it succinctly, 2020 has been a beat down. Going into to mid late 2021 and beyond, and want the words “socially distant” removed from the vocabulary.

Stay safe everyone- we need you alive and well going forward. So wear your masks, and view everyone you meet no matter what as a nutty Q Anon / Proud Boy Republican. That will keep you socially distant and safe for the time being. Hope to see most of you in person mid to late 2021.

Bobby

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Colette Custin

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Harrison Christoph

Top 10 Best Albums of 2020:
– Charlie XCX – How I’m Feeling Now

– Run The Jewels – RTJ4

– Grimes – Miss Anthropocene

– Chance The Rapper – The Big Day

– Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez

– Tame Impala – The Slow Rush

– Smashing Pumpkins – CYR

– Sturgill Simpson – Cuttin Grass

– King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – K.G.

– Green Day – Father of All Motherfuckers

Wash. Your. Hands.

Cover. Your. Face.

HC
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Philamonjaro

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