WEEK OF 12/13/2019

Richard Album / all 📷 : Tina Mead

Luck be a lady this past Friday the 13th. She landed me at Big Forever in Humboldt Park, a Chicago DIY space made possible by Richard Album and dedicated to fostering creativity and community. The theme for the night was “heaven” as I walked in during shoegaze aficionado, Brent Penny perfectly working his way through melodic interludes and trading off synths and guitars. 

Penny has an out-of-this-world soaring voice and presence. He is the latest addition to Big Forever’s stable of creative musicians. This Minneapolis native is worthy of any chance you can get to see him live. He played tracks from his latest EP release, Choose the Right with “Void” and “Airplane” both being standouts. He closed with the unreleased “Golden Boy,” showcasing his vocal talents and lyrical timing.

This was my first time seeing Melkbelly, and I can promise you it won’t be my last. They came on as hell’s children from “upper heaven” and played a demonically sinister set that was nothing short of ball-tingling. Miranda Winter’s vox destroyed the intimate venue. I seriously didn’t think there was going to be enough room to contain what was emanating from the PAs; the sheer physics was mind boggling. Drummer James Wetzel destroyed planes of existence as the brothers-Winters on bass and guitar worked their way up and down the fretboards with pure, satanic certainty. As far as the rest of the night was concerned, they set the bar pretty fuckin high, or so I thought. 

Between Melkbelly and the next act, “Dancing Cheek to Cheek” was playfully playing between sets. Heavenly-themed songs were pumped in as each act set up, but this one just seemed to stand out the most and even elicited sing alongs from the crowd. I was in heaven indeed. This set up Dream Version. 

Chicago natives, Dream Version showed that there is “Proof that there are still nice guys in heaven.” Bass and synth are the centerpieces of this three-piece, stirring up early feels from the Misfits’ “Static Age” album. Their setlist was in reverse chronological order starting with newer material and leaving us with the comfort of timeless favorites like “Romance” and “Escape.” Dream Version brings a neo-counter culture sound that I guess could just be considered culture now. Their progressive, avant-garde live show sound and presence is a thread woven through the fabric of the Chicago DIY scene. Whether they realize it or not, they tip a hat to the early New Age motif that is still very much alive today. What a solid set. 

Richard Album started off solo with a crowd invasion. His between-song interactions with the audience was pointedly a want to keep the beauty of Big Forever going, saying, “On earth we are sinners, and heaven is far away.” Album’s boyish charm and snarky whit drove the crowd to near Jonestown cultist excitement; they passed a donation bowl instead of Kool Aid, thankfully. “Everybody these days is trying to sing their way into heaven,” Album quipped as skits and tunes were the flavor of the night. This personal touch had the crowd eating from his hand. “Nightman” brought about a revival of surf and old school rock ‘n’ roll. He finished his set being carried out by his band mates and pelting the crowd with fake snow. There is no hiding Album’s love of music, performing, and the community who comes out to see him live. 

Friday the 13th at Big Forever was magical. This venue showcases things that are insanely under-celebrated in the Chicago music scene: community and fellowship. I’ve traveled far and wide from Europe to the Far East, gravitating to music communities, and I have only seen a handful of just as put-together groups of musicians. Well done, Mr. Album, here’s to many years of health, wealth, and happiness. Not only to you, but the community that you foster and unabashedly charm with your presence. 

-Aaron Pylinski