Pass or Play

(concerts I’ve been to this year) 

(Pictured: LOATHE Credits: Midwest Sweetheart) 

What is up lovelies, it's your Midwest Sweetheart here and today we are not in the studio, but online. If you're looking for a concert or two to go to this year or just looking for new bands to listen to, this is defs the blog for you. Now, there are three key things I’m going to rate the shows on; How the band sounds live, crowd comfortability, and venue. The concerts we’re going to be looking at are more leaning towards the alternative rock and indie scene so please keep that in mind while reading! Let’s get this show on the road. 

Modern Color  

(Pictured: Modern Color Credits: Midwest Sweetheart) 

My friend introduced me to this band last year and I love them so much. Modern color is a rock band id argue with some shoegaze elements, formed back in 2014. They came to Chicago last year in October and played at Subterranean, great venue. Anyways, this year they played at the Cobra lounge venue, rating: 9.5/10.

I say this because the openers had some trouble with tech, and it wasnt just them, I came back the next day for another concert and they had the same issue. What I did like about this venue was it was very small and cozy, and there was a free water station in this subsection, ALSO, bathrooms were right by the stage in the front. As far as crowd comfortability, you could definitely go to their concert alone and you’d probably make friends. Their fans are so nice, not smelly (cough cough The Garden) and their mosh pits aren't really intense. I’d say If you have a bit of social anxiety and but like a good atmosphere you’d survive, this guy literally came up to me and gave me a Kandi bracelet he made with the band’s theme. The people don’t push to see up close everyone's there for the music. I will say however, there is a lot of stage diving and crowd surfing so prepare yourself, keep your hands up. 8.5/10 (someone landed on my head i was NOT ready). 

Now the moment you’ve been waiting for, the band themselves. NO AUTOTUNE NO BACKTRACK STRAIGHT TALENT. Modern Color sounds exactly like their tracks if not BETTER. And before you say anything, no I’m not glazing them they are genuinely good. If you’re thinking about getting into them, I’d suggest Fortress and Dancing Waters Club. They had three openers, an Australian band called Garage Sale, and two from the U.S; Milly and Webbed Wing. I had never heard of any of these bands before seeing them live and Garage Sale became one of my favorites, they are so kind and gave me their setlist, they sound exactly like their tracks. Same with Webbed Wing, I got a picture with them on my way out, very nice people they have such good stage presence, I’d argue they sound even better live. The only one I wasn’t quite feeling was Milly, I thought it was so cool they had a female drummer, and they sounded so good live, but when I looked for their music, it just didn’t hit the same. 9/10.

Overall rating 9/10 PLAY IT.  

Mind’s Eye 

(Pictured from Left to Right: Jacob Cambra, Vince Lopez, Kelli, Kumiko, and Andrew Scott. Credits: Midwest Sweetheart) 

Minds Eye has been one of my absolute favorite bands for going on five years now. They’re a little indie band from LA, and this was my second time seeing them. They came to Chicago last year in April and Played at Schubas Tavern, another great venue. This Concert was the day after the Modern Color concert, at the same venue. So the same rating, 9.5/10.

Crowd Comfortability was a solid 9/10, Their fanbase is literally so kind, last year I met one of my best friends there. Most people go alone to this concert, so you’ll be just fine and maybe make a friend or two, this girl gave her phone to my sister to play crossy road chicken (we had no idea who she was so, shout out to her). There was a lot of pushing and shoving because the venue was so small and there were way more people there than the day before, plus with the mosh pits going but it wasn't bad at all.

Finally, the band themselves, automatically 10/10, yes, I am in fact biased, but also if they were trash, I would call them out. Vince literally sounds the exact same if not better than he does on track. Kelli and Jack have heavenly harmonies, like so beautiful I almost shed a tear. The thing I love about them is that they have such a good stage presence. Vince makes so many jokes, and the crowd interaction is so silly. He gets into the actual pit and stirs up drama its funny. Cathedral Bells were the opener, and they sound so good live, and they are so kind. The thing I like about these shows, is that they take the time to meet with every single fan, take a picture and sign something, which is definitely time consuming and energy draining for them but its pretty cool that they go out of their way to do that. Same thing with the bands from modern color, they just hang around the venue and talk with you. All this to say like we’ve got to stop idolizing artists, they’re honestly just chill dudes like us.

Overall, a solid 9.5/10 TURN IT UP.