Chicago’s Own, Sons Of The Silent Age, Return With Annual Benefit Concert, Joined By Actor Micheal Shannon, Performing The Hits Of Bowie And Lennon

Jan 13, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By James Currie

It’s a tradition. For the last decade, the Chicago supergroup collectively known as the Sons of the Silent Age, converge on the stage of Wrigleyville’s indie club darling, Metro and constantly sell out performances for their annual benefit concert. This year was no different. Fans lined up down the block to get in and see master musicians; Chris Connelly, Matt Walker, Carolyn Engelmann, Steve Gerlach, Robert Byrne, Rich Parenti, Alan Berliant, Clair Massey and Marcus Johnson – belting out David Bowie hits honoring the 50th anniversary of his classic, “Young Americans”, as well as other hits.

This year the band was joined by actor, Michael Shannon, who in recent years has been honing his craft at singing performing tribute shows as Lou Reed, Micheal Stipe of R.E.M., Elvis and now John Lennon. Shannon (grew up for a time in Chicago’s northshore) is also a Chicago treasure not only as an amazing eclectic Hollywood cinema and stage theatre actor, but a musician in his own right. His band, Corporal! is something he’s been doing on the side since the late 2000’s. So music isn’t something new to him although it does seem to be taking more of his time lately especially since he announced he’s going on tour for a month with his REM tribute band co supported by his friend and gifted musician Jason Narducy. More on that next month when they come through town with a stop at Salt Shed.

Saturday night was a freezing cold night as Chicago was heading into its deep winter freeze but that doesn’t stop true music fans. They sold the place out again and heated the night up with sing alongs and dancing throughout the evening.

After Shannon’s set of Lennon songs, ‘Sons’ came out and played the first half of their 2 set night. They kicked off the night with 3 songs off Bowies 9th studio album, “Young Americans” first with “Fascination” then the title track “Young Americans” followed by “Can You Hear Me”.

They then paused and introduced Michael Shannon and brought him out to join in on the Lennon / Bowie classic, “Fame”.

Video of that can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7iBBjAg3a8

Shannon continued on for one more song, the Tin Machine version of “Working Class Hero” before parting ways for the set.

The show was filled with other Bowie hits like “The Jean Genie”, “Scary Monsters” and “Let’s Dance” before they took a break ending the first half and doing a fund raiser in the middle.

When they came back, they continued with the songs of a bedazzled generation like “Space Oddity”, “Fashion”, “Modern Love” and “Suffragette City” to name a few.

This event has come to mean more than just a David Bowie tribute. It’s a benefit yes, but it’s also cathartic for so many. This is something the fans look forward to all year round. When they’re at the show, it’s nothing but love as they sing and dance to the songs, shout cheers of joy and if you look close, shed a tear – maybe not for just being so in this moment happy, but also for sadness of the passing of a legend, end of the year hopes and new beginnings as we all march on. Thank you Sons of the Silent Age for providing this. Here’s to next year!