Two Acts Lead The Indie Rock Showcase At Chicago’s House of Blues As Beach Fossils and Nation of Language Double Up For Fun

Apr 09, 2024 admin_bitlc Features, Reviews, Uncategorized 0

By Christopher David

House of Blues played host to one of the best bills of 2024 thus far as Beach Fossils and Nation of Language delivered a night of unforgettable hooks reflecting the current state of indie rock.

Brooklyn trio Nation of Language, fresh on the release of their 2023 album Strange Disciple, might as well have been co-headlining for the reception they received, and it was well-deserved; three albums in, they’ve synthesized their influences into something fresh and on their own terms. Vocalist Ian Richard Devaney often called to mind a hybrid of Bryan Ferry circa Avalon and David Byrne, and new tunes like the stellar, Talking Heads-influenced “Too Much, Enough” and “Weak in Your Light” certainly sounded like the most honest modern take on ‘80s new wave, and elements of early Spandau Ballet were evident in tunes like “September Again” and the earworm melody of “The Wall & I,” and the band successfully walked a fine line between during their set between soaring, synth heavy arrangements and slow-burn atmosphere. Live, the band is a different animal from the chilly production of their records, with a wall of sound that should be witnessed by any fan.

Beach Fossils have delivered one of the most satisfying album runs in all of indie rock over their fifteen year history, and 2023’s Bunny was a logical and hooky next step after 2017’s Somersault, arguably the best indie rock album of that year. With vocalist/guitarist Dustin Payseur’s fuzz-drenched vocals flawlessly translating from album to stage, tunes like “Sugar” and “Sleep Apnea” with their winding, melodic guitar lines took on a brighter and heavier energy during Fossils’ set that gave nearly equal time to their rich discography. Beach Fossils’ sound continues to evolve in all the right ways, and, in turn, so does their live show—truly one of the few can’t-miss indie rock bands out there right now.