It was a good walk through 18th from where we were parked to go to the Pilsen show. It really means something to have the show there and I think that was the extra spark that started the effort to finally go see them. To have it in Pilsen is to say your spanish-speaking Latin American fans mean something to you, that we share the same roots. And nothing says Mexican like Pilsen.
And now they are in a position of great influence. You could feel the mutual affection during that show. Nina really throws herself into it. Her eyes are wide with a crazed intensity. Only the sweat from her forehead makes her blink.
Nina has her stage presence down. This is what makes you want to buy and wear the shirt, all loud and proud. I only had enough for one CD, but still. I said her stage presence, the way she handles the guitar, the theater of it, movements you want to imitate like air guitar.
I got nieces and if there is someone that I wish to inspire them to pick up a guitar, Nina is one. If only I could pry their attention from all that Disney inspired bullshit! There were so many chances I had to see them. I'm thinking of one such night when I had the intent but something came up. It was possible it has something to do with being late. Ever since then, their name always comes up. Finally last Friday 4 October. Let it be known that I fully intended to see The Dyes but I was late for them. They are local, I will see them again. At least I was well on time for
GIAC . And its as if Pilsen came to them, and Little Village and perhaps Back Of The Yards. Seriously, there were a lot of Mexicans.
Double Door is one of Chicago's bigger venues and the place was well packed. This was a crowd that knew what they had before them. It focused a rosy spotlight on Nina. It seemed to energize her performance and make it as real as the sweat that makes her blink her forward gaze.
The audience would sometimes sing a long to something familiar. Oh, and you can't forget the Selena cover. It was obvious the long term nature of this relationship between the crowd and band. This was nurtured over years and that is what I walked into and finally on the tail end of it. So I 'll take my time with
exits. No need to say further what perhaps has already been, however singular my experience feels.
Zig
I've known of
Girl In A Coma for some time but this is only my second time seeing them. I know of them, but I don't know much about them.
So I feel like I got some catching up to do. The first time was this free show in Pilsen earlier in the summer. They are from San Antonio, Texas, but I guess you all know that already. They have been on Joan Jett's label since around...2007...you all know that too. I am late for this I will admit.
I'm barely going through the one CD I bought,
exits & all the rest , from 2011. I'm going to take my time on it. I know its one of four albums. There's no bloody point on rushing an opinion now.
Its all been said. I just want to note my specific experience with the music. There was a mass of fans in Pilsen. Its something to observe, the fans. Their enthusiasm is genuine.
the solo project of Moritat bassist/vox Konstantin. I have seen them a lot and they have introduced me to many other awesome musicians, including Julie Meckler, The Eternals. They've shared the stage with other bands that I like such as Pezzettino. The main voice of Moritat once seemed to be Venus,
but really they all sing. There are a number of tracks I like that don't have Venus take the lead including a new one Seattle Afternoon. It was with that one song I was suddenly also into and curious about Rows Of Arrows and still solidly into Moritat. 
Theirs is a new breath of coolness with no trace of douchy arrogance, or misogyny. You can totally feel what is meant by "avant-rock" when describing them. And now they have lead me to Rows Of Arrows. And I'm going into this with a genuine curiosity of the voice......hmmm. Chronologically we were friends before and now I can like the band separately ....if that makes sense. Hmmm, here's this. They don't come off as direct, and obvious as if not quite needing an audience....I'm back to Moritat by the way. They emit a coolness that does not need your appreciation to exist and for that reason seem irresistible and you get that euphoric feeling of being that first audience...We are still in that stage where audience members can still be recognized individually, and that is an awesome inclusive feeling. To discover them live is to be hooked. For me it has something to do with how they seem to go into a jam session within some of their songs. I notice they mostly use the bass guitar and Venus mostly hitting the deeper sounding keys. They subtly and for me intelligently use the deeper sounds that provoke movement before thought. But instead of provoking the cheap and obvious, they go somewhere else. That feeling about them I've had since their first show. They keep evolving and I still like them for the same reasons. They just feel different every time. I've missed a few shows of theirs and that does sting especially when you know that each gig the music evolves further until a recording is put down. They got another one in November at the MultiKulti. The last chance to see them for the year.
