The Sword Live in Chicago at Thalia Hall<\/p>\n
Dec 12th<\/sup>, 2015<\/p>\n By: VerHeyen<\/p>\n Roll up a doob, click on the blacklights and turn up the speakers \u2018caus it\u2019s time to trip out and rock on with Austin Texas\u2019 stoner doom rock band, The Sword. That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The Sword played Chicago\u2019s Pilsen neighborhood\u2019s live music hang out, Thalia Hall in support of their fifth and latest album, \u201cHigh Country\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n 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, \u201cHigh Country\u201d, as I couldn\u2019t differentiate between what was fog machine and one hitters.<\/p>\n 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, \u201cAge of Winters\u201d.<\/p>\n These guys know how to rock. They\u2019re not posing hipster rock star wannabe\u2019s. 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\u2019t help but compare their sound to Black Sabbath, Melvins and Queens of the Stone Age \/ Kyuss. All of good company.<\/p>\n Audience participation didn\u2019t 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\u2019t get many 60 degree nights in December.<\/p>\n The good weather the \u201con it\u201d band (and maybe some other natural herbal supplements) all helped make this show one for the fans as no one left disappointed.<\/p>\n For more info on The Sword, the current tour and albums, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For photos from the show, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n