Latest News
- Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios, Approaches Fifty-Years Of Innovation Right Here In Chicago
- This Weekend: An Evening With Drummer And Producer Martin Atkins, Friday At Lubeznik Center For The Arts
- Live Review: Rammstein Front Man Till Lindemann Goes Solo And Brings His Chaos, Calamity and Carp To Aragon Ballroom
- Photo Gallery: Till Lindemann live in Chicago at Aragon Ballroom
- The Jesus Lizard Returns To Chicago For Warm Love and Cool Dreams
- Final Day Of Riot Fest 2024 Brought The Rain, The Mud and The Metal.
Roll Up A Doob, Click On The Blacklights and Turn Up The Speakers – The Sword Are In Town
The Sword Live in Chicago at Thalia Hall
Dec 12th, 2015
By: VerHeyen
Roll up a doob, click on the blacklights and turn up the speakers ‘caus it’s time to trip out and rock on with Austin Texas’ stoner doom rock band, The Sword. That’s not just a sentiment, but what was pretty much happening in Thalia Hall tonight as John Cronise, Kyle Shutt, Bryan Richie and Santiago Vela III took the vintage mood lit, fog filled stage.
The Sword played Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood’s live music hang out, Thalia Hall in support of their fifth and latest album, “High Country”. The hard rock band reaching deeper into the classic stoner rock genre on this 15 track giant produced by Grupo Fantasma guitarist, Adrian Quesada. One that took them through four US states to complete. All with their new home and NY based label, Razor & Tie.
Tonight, they played to a full house of like-minded buds. All your senses were alive at this show giving a new meaning to the term, “High Country”, as I couldn’t differentiate between what was fog machine and one hitters.
They opened the show with a back track Disco track followed by Tres Brujas, then continued through their almost 10 years of tracks from as far back as their 2006 debut, “Age of Winters”.
These guys know how to rock. They’re not posing hipster rock star wannabe’s. They are a no nonsense, in your face kind of rock back that gives it too you straight. J.D. Cronise takes center stage on lead vocals sounding very similar to Ozzy Osbourne while still wrestling his guitar. Kyle Shutt keeps him in check with his backing vocals and lead shredding guitar riffs. Bryan Richie hammers down the low end and backfill vocals and Jimmy Santiago Vela kicks the skins and tins, driving the force home. I can’t help but compare their sound to Black Sabbath, Melvins and Queens of the Stone Age / Kyuss. All of good company.
Audience participation didn’t just end with helping out fill the hall with mood enhancing smoke, they also belted out lyrics along with the band and even had a mild mosh pit going from time to time with one fan moshing with a Santa hat on and no shirt. It was a pretty mild December night outside after all. We don’t get many 60 degree nights in December.
The good weather the “on it” band (and maybe some other natural herbal supplements) all helped make this show one for the fans as no one left disappointed.
For more info on The Sword, the current tour and albums, click here.
For photos from the show, click here.
For a live video from the show, click here.
The Sword Chicago Set List December 12th, 2015 (Please give us credit if you use this setlist):
1.Tres Brujas
2. Buzzards
3. Seven Sisters
4. High Country
5. The Dreamthieves
6. Maiden, Mother & Crone
7. Lawless Lands
8. Tears Like Diamonds
9. Mist and Shadow
10. Cloak of Feathers
11. The Hidden Masters
12. Ghost Eye
13. Empty Temples
14. Freya
15. The Horned Goddess
Related Articles
More in this category
