Wait. Corey Taylor<\/em>? At The Forge<\/em>?<\/p>\n Like I said. Surreal.<\/p>\n The night started with a performance of the \u201cMacabaret\u201d by The Cherry Bombs, an assemblage of female cabaret performers that brought a mix of horror costuming, metal, and literal fire to the intimate setting. Throw in some gravity-defying acrobatic routines\u2014in the center of the room, no less!\u2014and you had everything for a unique and exciting opening act that went beyond any typical expectations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Taking the stage drenched in red light, Taylor and his backing band The Morning Dudes opened with a cover of Pink Floyd\u2019s \u201cIn the Flesh,\u201d which set the tone for the night\u2014grand, bombastic, and surprising. From there, they were two rollicking cuts deep into CMFT<\/em> (\u201cHwy 666\u201d and \u201cMeine Lux\u201d) before anyone in the place knew what had hit them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2020\u2019s CMFT<\/em> is the kind of hard rock album that most bands will strive for all their lives, a no-bullshit affair that could have been at home on the rock charts at any time during the last four decades, which underscores Taylor\u2019s keen understanding of and focus on the tenets of well-written rock\u2014anthemic hooks and arrangements that keep things interesting while staying true to a four-piece rock band style that remains a recipe for success for those with the chops to pull it off; Taylor has long since proven himself in that area. Some of the standouts on that record\u2014\u201cSamantha\u2019s Gone,\u201d the destined-to-be-a-classic \u201cBlack Eyes Blue,\u201d and the introspective \u201cSilverfish\u201d\u2014let listeners in on a (not-so) secret: Taylor\u2019s midwestern musical roots can be traced back to the hard rock radio domain of the late \u201870s and early \u201880s as much as they do to the kind of metal for which Slipknot have become stadium gods. Think Billy Squier, .38 Special, Red Rider, or Cheap Trick, and you\u2019re getting there. While Stone Sour has historically leaned toward radio-friendly rock with a bit of twang and soul thrown in, Taylor\u2019s solo efforts feel even less hemmed in by the expectations of his musical history.<\/p>\n An emotional rendering of \u201cHome\u201d dedicated to Taylor\u2019s wife Alicia (also a member of The Cherry Bombs) found the frontman playing piano in a welcome curveball that once again proved Taylor\u2019s versatility as a songwriter for anyone still on the fence.\u00a0\u00a0 Another of the night\u2019s highlights was an explosive version of Slipknot\u2019s \u201cSnuff,\u201d a gem from 2010\u2019s All Hope is Gone <\/em>that rarely finds a home in Slipknot\u2019s live set, though the nuance of The Morning Dudes\u2019 musicianship really came through in the thunderous arrangement leading from the slow burn, acoustic intro. The more introspective moments in the set like Stone Sour\u2019s \u201cTaciturn\u201d and rock-radio stalwart \u201cBother,\u201d alongside solo tunes like \u201cHalfway Down,\u201d made the looser moments that much more fun. A stomping cover of Eddie Money\u2019s \u201cShakin\u2019\u201d felt perfectly at home sandwiched between tunes from CMFT, <\/em>and an impromptu segue into Stevie Wonder\u2019s \u201cSuperstitious\u201d in between songs was a reminder\u2014as if we needed one\u2014of just how much damn fun the band was having.<\/p>\n The world of rock and metal, as with any genre, has its true superstars; not just in terms of fame and money, but in terms of talent and influence. As the 2021 concert season in Chicagoland gets underway, it felt like a moment of triumph and catharsis for everyone in the room\u2014fans and band alike\u2014to celebrate all things rock with someone who understands and loves it like Corey Taylor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more on Corey Taylor, click here<\/a><\/p>\n For Photos of Corey Taylor at The Forge, click here<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Cherry-Bombs-The-Forge-2021-5-1024x683.jpg\")
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