{"id":61489,"date":"2025-07-18T17:33:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T22:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/?p=61489"},"modified":"2025-07-18T17:33:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T22:33:49","slug":"til-death-do-us-part-murder-by-death-plays-final-chicago-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/?p=61489","title":{"rendered":"‘Til Death Do Us Part:\u00a0Murder By Death Plays Final Chicago Shows"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Kyle Decker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Murder by Death has been a crucial band for me for more than half my life. They were first brought to my attention in late 2003. It was my freshman year of college and I was home for winter break. My friend picked me up and we were driving around and she had a mix-CD playing (you remember mix-CDs?). It was her usual blend of indie, punk, and emo. Good stuff, but all familiar. But all of a sudden this song starts to play. This shambling, gothy, chamber-pop number with just a hint of salsa and, holy shit, is this about zombies<\/em>? In a school<\/em>? Any readers who are fans already figured out I\u2019m talking about \u201cKillbot 2000\u201d off Who Will Survive and What Will be Left of Them?<\/em>, Murder by Death\u2019s second album, released in 2003. On a totally unrelated note, kids born that year can drink now and it\u2019s kinda fucking with my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those first three albums, Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing<\/em>; Who Will Survive \u2026?<\/em>; and In Bocca al Lupo <\/em>would consistently contribute to the soundtrack of my college years. Hell, the line \u201cthese hands made of splitters keep knockin\u2019 back the whiskey sours\u201d from the song \u201cA Masters in Reverse Psychology\u201d is probably the reason whiskey sours became my drink of choice in my early 20s, before I could afford the good stuff and learned to like it neat. \u201cIntergaltic Menopause\u201d from Like the Exorcist\u2026<\/em> is a gorgeously haunting tune and perfect background music for wandering campus when you\u2019re depressed, dissociating, and still a bit drunk from the night before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The band had formed in Bloomington, Indiana under the name Little Joe Gould, but changed their name to Murder by Death- a 1976 parody of Agatha Christie stories starring Peter Falk- around the release of Like the Exorcist\u2026<\/em>  <\/em>Though, they typically have been labeled as \u201calt-country\u201d, especially since they had some releases through Bloodshot Records. In general, I\u2019ve described their work, particularly the 2003-2010 era, as \u201cJohnny Cash composing the score for a gothic-horror spaghetti western.\u201d But not everything in their oeuvre behaves well enough to be defined. Adam Turla\u2019s baritone vocals are definitely Cashish\u2026 Cash-esque?…Cashian? \u2026processing qualities reminiscent of Johnny Cash. But even that\u2019s a bit reductive. Turla has vocal range for days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In their early years especially, the band was known for concept albums. Who Will Survive\u2026?<\/em> tells the story of the Devil waging war on a small town in Mexico after he gets shot in a bar fight. In Bocca al Lupo<\/em> (\u201cInto the mouth of the wolf\u201d, the Italian equivalent of \u201cbreak a leg\u201d) was inspired by Dante\u2019s Inferno<\/em>. Each song focuses on a sinner or sinners in the different circles of Hell or the people they\u2019ve impacted. Interestingly enough I\u2019ve had two short stories published that were inspired by songs on that album. Fitting considering the title is an Italian idiom for \u201cGood luck.\u201d My short story \u201cBrother\u201d<\/a> was inspired by the song of the same name. And \u201cFamily Night\u201d<\/a> was inspired by \u201cShiola.\u201d 2008\u2019s Red of Tooth and Claw<\/em> is Homer\u2019s The Odyssey<\/em> reimagined as a revisionist western. The song \u201cComin\u2019 Home\u201d gained some notoriety after being used in an episode of Sons of Anarchy.<\/em> Although my personal favorite track is \u201cFuego!\u201d, which seems inspired by Calypso and\/or the Sirens. For my money, it is one of the sexiest songs ever written. Even during the years they broke from making concept albums for several albums, story telling was always at the heart of their music. \u201cI Came Around\u201d from Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon<\/em> (2012) tells the story of a man who attends his rival\u2019s funeral out of spite, only to be taken in by the man\u2019s friends and family and learns the man he hated was actually a decent person. 2018\u2019s The Other Shore<\/em> saw a return to the concept album. It tells the story of people leaving Earth and people left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Over the last 13 years or so, the band would fund albums through Kickstarter, with one of the higher tier rewards allowing contributors to request a cover song. This resulted in an album series called As You Wish,<\/em> which consisted entirely of these covers. My wife and I danced to their absolutely beautiful rendition of INXS\u2019s \u201cNever Tear Us Apart\u201d at our wedding. So, yeah\u2026 this band means<\/em> something to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they announced a farewell tour-which included two Chicago shows On July 16 and 17- I knew I had to see them. It had been a number of years since I\u2019d seen them live, part of this was due to the fact I lived abroad for half-a-decade. But I had to see their final Chicago show. Within minutes of seeing the announcement, I put in the request to James at In the Loop<\/em> to get a press pass. But, I know how big of a following they have in Chicago, and I wanted to leave nothing to chance. So I got tickets for Thursday, July 17th. Just to be sure I saw their final Chicago show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And what a show! It began with a Star Wars<\/em> style scroll welcoming everyone to the show and stating this was Murder by Death\u2019s 1914th show (My exact number may be off. I have dyscalculia on the best of days, so if anyone was there feel free to correct me). After a few songs, vocalist Adam Turla thanked everyone for coming out. Sadly, I missed the previous night. He mentioned they would be \u201cplaying two songs from each of their ten albums\u201d and then some. And they\u2019d be doing 17 songs they did not play the previous night. \u201cBut we do this one<\/em> every fuckin\u2019 night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They then launched into \u201cBrother.\u201d The song is a raucous and rowdy number, and though a full on mosh pit didn\u2019t break out (it was still early yet), it was on the verge. Honestly, if I gave the right person a gentle shove, I probably could have set one off. Later in the set a mosh pit did get going to \u201cComin\u2019 Home\u201d and \u201cRum Brave.\u201d The energy was high throughout. And it was hard to tell if the fog rolling off stage was a fog machine, or smoke coming off of Sarah Balliet\u2019s cello. My only real note is that they didn\u2019t do \u201cFuego!\u201d I saw the previous night\u2019s setlist and they didn\u2019t do it then either. Which is a little surprising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Throughout the show there were occasionally video projections. Including an animation of growing vines, and a loop of the 1898 George M\u00e9li\u00e8s short film The Astronomer’s Dream.<\/em> The <\/em>inclusion of which proves again how much the band loves and has been inspired by film. Again, their name is taken from the title of a movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At one point a fan back by the bar shouted \u201cI FUCKIN\u2019 LOVE YOU, ADAM!\u201d to which Turla replied, \u201cThat was intense, Bro. Maybe dial it back.\u201d A bandmate quipped, \u201cOr dial it up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. Back,\u201d Turla replied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turla went on to express the band\u2019s love of Chicago and how they\u2019ve always felt appreciated by the city. He went on to say they\u2019ve probably played more shows in Chicago than any other city. Counting a few suburban shows, he estimated they\u2019ve played the Chicagoland area over 80 times in their 25 years. Which tracks. I\u2019ve been to more than a dozen, I think. As they played Chicago a few times a year during my peak concert going days. Although I had also seen them in Iowa City with the Reverend Horton Heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The band came back on stage for a two song encore. Naturally they closed out with \u201cAlas\u201d, the chorus of which is \u201cI need to stay, but alas I must go.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me it was a pretty emotional experience. It\u2019s a band that carried me through very formative years and helped inspire my own art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My friend who was with me had never seen them live before, but commented that it was one of the best live shows he\u2019s seen. It\u2019s a shame that it\u2019s over. And I hope it\u2019s not over forever. They\u2019ve said they plan to continue their famous annual cave shows. And I\u2019m definitely down for a road trip. Until then, I\u2019ll keep knockin\u2019 back the whiskey sours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set list for Thursday, July 17th:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riders (Spell\/Bound, <\/em>2022)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until Morale Improves, the Beatings Will Continue (Who Will Survive\u2026?,<\/em> 2003)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brother (In Bocca Al Lupo,<\/em> 2005)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lost River (Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon<\/em>, 2012)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stone (The Other Shore, <\/em>2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ash (Red of Tooth and Claw,<\/em> 2008)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight at the Sun (Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon<\/em>, 2012)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foxglove (Good Morning, Magpie<\/em>, 2010)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

True Dark (The Other Shore, <\/em>2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wandering (Egg & Dart,<\/em> 2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Big Sleep (In Bocca Al Lupo,<\/em> 2005)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letter to the Editor (Egg & Dart,<\/em> 2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pizza Party (at Gloria Estefan\u2019s House) (single, 2009)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Space (The Other Shore, <\/em>2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Matter Now (Egg & Dart,<\/em> 2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m Afraid of Who\u2019s Afraid of Virgina Wolfe (Like the Exorcist\u2026, <\/em>2002)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring Break 1899 (Red of Tooth and Claw,<\/em> 2008)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comin\u2019 Home (Red of Tooth and Claw,<\/em> 2008)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Curse of Elkhart (Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon<\/em>, 2012)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rumbrave (Red of Tooth and Claw,<\/em> 2008)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Came Around (Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon<\/em>, 2012)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encore:
Only Time (The Other Shore, <\/em>2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alas (The Other Shore, <\/em>2018)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Kyle Decker Murder by Death has been a crucial band for me for more than half my life. They were first brought to my attention in late 2003. It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,39,20],"tags":[199,285,415,298,1566,620],"class_list":["post-61489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-music-news","category-reviews","tag-chicago-music-news-live-venue-interviews-reviews","tag-concert-review","tag-kyle-decker","tag-live","tag-murder-by-death","tag-thalia-hall"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=61489"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61498,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61489\/revisions\/61498"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/61490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=61489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=61489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=61489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}