Frenship Delivers Explosive Energy As Part of Bastille's Wild, Wild World Tour

This past Sunday night we caught up and coming duo FRENSHIP in Barcelona, supporting Bastille on their Wild, Wild World Tour at Sant Jordi Club. The Los Angeles based group fuse rock, pop, and electronic elements to craft upbeat and catchy tunes that will easily get lodged in your brain, and their live show with a full band only further amplified the energy found in their music.

FRENSHIP at Sant Jordi Club in Barcelona

The 7:30 PM set started with the tune "Run Wild," with frontmen James Sunderland and Brett Hite instantly hooking the crowd with their stage presence. The audience dished the energy right back to James, Brett, and their band-- everyone in the front row dancing along and some well-versed audience members even singing along.

For the second song, "Carpet," the dance party continued with the band members shuffling themselves around on stage, with keyboardist and vocalist Celeste moving from stage right to stage left. The performance grew even more dynamic and lively as James and Brett faced off in a drum battle during "Knives."  

As the band rocked through singles “Nowhere” and “Morrison,” they all had infectious smiles on their faces, and they made sure to work every side of the stage so that no part of the 3,000 capacity venue felt left out. The highlight of their 30 minute set had to be the performance of their most popular track, “Capsize,” which was originally recorded with singer Emily Warren. Celeste took center stage during the song to sing the unforgettable melody and chorus of the track, and the energy of the night hit it’s peak.

Just around 8PM, the set concluded with new song “1,000 Nights,” but not before James and Brett had a full-on dance off and another drum battle with each other.

The fact that FRENSHIP are already able to establish such a connection with a foreign audience and as a support act leaves no doubt that we'll all be seeing and hearing a lot more from this band in 2017. If you like dancing and having a good time, make sure you get yourself to a FRENSHIP gig as soon as possible. Check out their tour dates here and listen to their debut EP Truce below:

Chicago Crowd Swoons Over Soulful Kevin Garrett

Photos by Emily Nava

“I’ve played in Chicago a lot, and this is the best,” says Kevin Garrett before playing his last song to a sold out Lincoln Hall on Thursday evening.  Although he wrapped up his set with a solo performance, the 25 year old R&B singer-songwriter/producer had just played an hour long set with a full backing band. Prior to this solo finish, the early set kicked off a few minutes before 8:30 PM, with one of the new tracks from Kevin’s EP out Friday, called “Heart Like Yours.”

The night moved along with another newer track, “Stranglehold,” which was finally released as a single just last month. It’s crazy to think that just over a year ago on the same stage, Kevin opened his set with that song, as the first of two openers on tour with Skylar Grey and X Ambassadors.  As the night progressed and Kevin completely owned the stage, it’s clear how much he has improved as a performer during that year or so. During each song, a complete hush fell over the crowd, as if Kevin had placed them all in a trance. It’s always a rare and special moment to see an audience that captivated and consumed with a performer, but with Kevin’s soulful and swoon-worthy vocals, it’s not surprising.  While Kevin has always put on a great show, this time reached another level entirely.  Every time he performs here, there’s always so much love and positive energy from the audience, and Kevin even acknowledged the support he’s received from Chicago towards the end of the set.  

Besides a maturity in stage presence, Kevin has also bulked up his setlist for this False Hope Tour, in support of his new EP of the same name.  Before performing “Little Bit Of You,” a single that had been released the week prior, Kevin mentioned that his new EP would come out at midnight and thanked the crowd for being there.  The 14 song set included every song off of the new 5 song EP, like “The Way I Keep Myself Together” and “Pulling Me Under.”  In addition to these newer songs, Kevin has also spruced up his already-excellent backing band, adding another keyboardist, Brett Williams. Together, the band and Kevin delivered a flawless sounding set, and the crowd especially seemed to enjoy some of the newer songs.

Perhaps the most incredible thing about Kevin as an artist is that even with this continued success and additional work he has put into his live show, he’s still very much hands on when it comes to the business side of music, and he’s very approachable for his fans.  He spent time both before and after the show meeting fans, selling merch, and he even worked with the lighting person on staff at the venue to work out cues for each song.  In the ever-evolving music business, it seems that more and more artists get out of touch with this kind of busy work, but it’s very refreshing to see such a talented artist like Kevin still having a hold on it.  

The False Hope Tour continues on through March, so make sure to catch the show if Kevin is coming to a city near you.

Listen to the False Hope EP here:

Setlist:

1. Heart Like Yours

2. Stranglehold

3. Pushing Away

4. Come Up Short

5. Little Bit Of You

6. Precious

7. Pulling Me Under

8. Refuse

9. Coloring

10. Never Knock/Sam Cooke Cover

11. Control

12. The Way I Keep Myself Together

ENCORE

1. Pray You Catch Me

2. Solo

 

PHOX Photo Set: 1/31/17 at Lincoln Hall

Photos by Emily Nava

Tuesday night, PHOX put on a stunning performance at Chicago's Lincoln Hall, as part of their farewell tour. The night included a poetry fueled introduction and an encore featuring a beautiful cover of "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac. ANCHR photographer Emily Nava snapped some shots of the wonderful evening--check them out below!

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Bear’s Den Enchants Chicago With Their Humble and Harmony-Heavy Set, Featuring a Special Guest

Photos by Emily Nava

Right around 9PM on Friday night, Andrew Davie and Kev Jones (aka Bear's Den) made their way onto the Thalia Hall stage with a full band, opening with the title track of their latest album Red Earth & Pouring Rain. For the next hour and half, the Pilsen crowd remained enthralled by the London band.  Lead singer Andrew Davie immediately revealed the band’s gracious and modest attitude, thanking everyone before moving into playing “Emeralds,” another newer track from the second album.  Kev and Andrew both exhibited great chemistry on stage with each other and their other band members, at times pulling away from their microphones to jam together in the middle of the stage.  

As the set moved along, Andrew introduced crowd favorite “Stubborn Beast,” saying it’s a song they wrote a really long time ago and never quite figured out how to play it live.  Despite Andrew’s pre-song confession, the song sounded incredible live and the audience loved it. For the next song, “Isaac,”  the crowd joined in on the singing, adding even more depth to the beautiful harmonies in the song. After giving props to the audience for their beautiful singing, the band said they’d like to try something new by doing their song “Don’t Let The Sun Steal You Away” completely unplugged. With absolutely no amplification, the band had the audience completely wrapped around their fingers during this song.  

The dynamic 90-minute set rolled on with a high-energy performance of “The Love We Stole” from Bear’s Den first album.  The second half of the set remained diverse, with a good chunk of songs coming from the new album, and a few older songs sprinkled in.  Kev, Andrew, and their bandmates remained gracious and charming too, at one point getting a lot of cheers when they successfully did the bottle flip challenge.  Winding down the night, the band played their popular song “Above The Clouds of Pompeii” before walking off stage.

The band returned for an incredible four song encore, featuring an in-crowd and unplugged performance of “Gabriel,” and the lovely addition of backing vocals from the crowd. The highlight had to be when Andrew welcomed the brilliant Jack Garratt onto the stage to help them sing a Chicago-customer cover song. On this tour, Bear’s Den have been showing off their incredible musicianship by learning a new cover song every night, specific to the city.  For this show, the band and special guest Jack Garratt performed none other than “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens. So many bands stick to the same setlist every night, so this custom cover adds something different to each show and allows for the band to have some fun with their favorite songs.  

Bear's Den with Jack Garratt

Definitely go see Bear's Den for a one-of-a-kind evening full of talent and great energy! You can find all of their upcoming tour dates here. 

The Setlist:

1. Red Earth & Pouring Rain

2. Emeralds

3. Elysium

4. Greenwoods Bethlehem

5. Stubborn Beast

6. Isaac

7. Don't Let the Sun Steal You Away

8. The Love We Stole

9. Roses On a Breeze

10. Love can’t stand alone

11. Dew on the Vine

12. When You Break

13. Auld Wives

14. Above the Clouds of Pompeii

Encore:

1. Napoleon

2. Gabriel

3. Chicago
   (Sufjan Stevens cover)

4. Agape

More Photos by Emily Nava:

January 26th Doubleheader: Public Access T.V and The Lemon Twigs

We’ve all been there…one of your favorite bands announces a show, and at first, you’re ecstatic and start making plans to get tickets. Then you go to put the show in your calendar and you realize…you’ve already got plans to see another band that night (dun dun dunnnnnn).  I know, I know, it’s a very “first world problem" to have when living in a major city that most tours travel through, but deciding between shows can be a total nightmare. That’s why last night I did away with the FOMO and decided to race from Schubas to The Empty Bottle to catch a doubleheader from Public Access T.V and The Lemon Twigs.

The jam-packed evening started off catching PATV’s main support and ANCHR interview alumni Splashh, who kicked off their set at 9PM with “See Through You.”  For the next 40 minutes, Splashh won over the small-but-mighty crowd as they performed a set composed of songs from their debut Comfort, as well as a few new ones, like “Rings” and the title track from their upcoming album, “Waiting A Lifetime.” 

Splashh at Schubas 1/26/17

Proving themselves as a live band, the “cheeky boys from Australia” (as Public Access T.V called them) delivered an added facet to each of their songs that you can only experience in the live setting…going beyond bringing their album to life.  They incorporated everything from extended jam sessions to building up an enchanting beat that left the crowd in a trance.  The energy level from the fans and the band amplified during the last song, “Need It,” with everyone moving along in time to the song, especially the front row.  Longtime fan Annie Ruzga said she’d been waiting to see them for forever, after discovering their music years ago on Spotify.

Annie Ruzga with her sign made from Splashh song titles

After a quick changeover, headliners Public Access T.V took the stage around 9:50 saying, “We’re called the Feds and we’re from Washington D.C.,” referencing Donald Trump’s threat to send the feds to Chicago.  From the beginning chords of “In Our Blood” the crowd was hooked, but things really got moving when lead singer John Eatherly sang the opening lines of “In Love and Alone.”  John mentioned in our interview a few weeks back that this track is one of their oldest, which came across from the sense of ease that overtook the stage during this song. 

PATV at Schubas 1/26/17

Throughout most of their set, the band kept up their cool and collected attitude, effortlessly playing crowd favorites like “End of an Era” and “Evil Disco.”  On a couple of occasions, the band members got a little out of sync and seemed to be confused on song order, but it appeared to be because they didn’t have setlists on the stage.  Despite the slight setlist slipups, the energy never faltered, both on stage and in the crowd, and the fast paced set flew by.  PATV thanked the audience and bid their goodbyes around 10:30.  Both bands stuck around to sell merch and meet fans.

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I had a quick chat with a few band members, then made my way over to The Empty Bottle to catch The Lemon Twigs.  I unfortunately missed the equally awesome retro-inspired rockers Savoy Motel, but made it right on time for The Lemon Twigs’ 11:20PM start time.  “Keep that Bee Gees song going,” co-frontman and eldest brother Brian D’Addario instructed as the four band members made their way on stage.  As the younger brother, 17 year old Michael D’Addario, took his place behind the drum kit, I can’t help but notice the “x” on each band member’s hand.  For any touring band, coming to a new city and selling out a venue should be considered a feat, but especially for a band as young as The Lemon Twigs.  The band hooked the crowd members by opening with their popular track “I Wanna Prove To You,” immediately displaying raw talent and electrifying stage presence.  After playing “Haroomata,” another track from their debut album, Brian introduced the next song “Why Didn’t You Say That” as part of their upcoming EP to be released this year. 

Michael D'Addario leading the band. The Lemon Twigs at The Empty Bottle 1/26/17.

As the set moved on and the crowd remained hooked, Brian displayed incredible showmanship under pressure when Michael’s bass drum pedal went out right before “These Words.”  Instead of stalling or pausing the show, Brian skipped ahead to perform another new song as a solo performance.  By the end of the song, the drums were back in working order and they were able to perform the crowd favorite “These Words.”  For the remaining half of the set, Brian and Michael switched places, with Michael taking center stage to sing the remaining songs. Standout moments from the rest of the set included a cover by Alex Chilton, “All of the Time” and Michael’s signature high kicks.  The night concluded around 12:35AM, with a two song encore featuring “Queen of my School.”

If you missed out on one or both of these great shows last night, make sure you keep up with all of the bands on social media.  Splashh has promised to tour a bunch in 2017, in support of their upcoming album.  Public Access T.V will no doubt be touring more, as they’ve been announced on some festival line ups.  The Lemon Twigs are even included on Coachella’s line up, which again is an amazing accomplishment for any musician, let alone a band their age.  

Top Three for Free

If you're a music fan in Chicago with an appetite for live shows, but you've got no budget for concert tickets, never fear; ANCHR is here.  As a massive music fan myself, I've learned all the best ways to catch free shows in the city. While there's a bunch of different ways to get your music fix for free, here are my three personal favorite spots.

JBTV

JBTV has been around for over 30 years, featuring interviews and performances with some of the biggest names in music.  And guess what? Every performance is taped in front of a live studio audience, and anyone can attend the tapings for free with an RSVP.  The catch? A lot of the times (not always, though) shows are filmed in the early afternoon before the band plays their full gig in the evening and usually it's an up and coming act that you might not have even heard of yet.  However, if you can use your lunch hour to swing by the studio, it's totally worth it, and it's almost guaranteed to be an "I saw ____ before they were big" moment.  Popular artists like Twenty One Pilots, Bastille, The 1975, Hozier, BANKS, Borns, and Catfish and The Bottlemen all got their starts on the JBTV stage. Sometimes, bigger artists swing by the studio, though, so always keep you eyes on JBTV's website for all the information on shows. Just yesterday, they had Arkells back in the studio, and they've had bands like Walk The Moon and The Wombats make return appearances after having major international success. There's also plenty of evening and weekend shows if you can't make the more frequent lunchtime performances. 

The Wombats at JBTV

WXRT Blue Cross Blue Shield Performance Stage/ Studio X

Plenty of radio stations offer free in-studio performances from artists on their playlist rosters, but few do it as well as XRT.  Although they'll sometimes have long breaks between BCBS Performance Stage sets or Studio X sessions, this week the station is hosting three contests for free performances.  The best part is that they're all great artists, including The Lemon Twigs and Bear's Den. Like JBTV, the BCBS stage performances tend to be in the early afternoon, but in the past year or so, I've managed to win slots to see artists like Jack Garratt, Shura, Warpaint, Allen Stone, and Twin Peaks.  Then, XRT even has a separate segment called Studio X, which entails a secret, larger show at different venues around town. For New Years Eve, XRT got Houndmouth to play a free set to a packed Reggies Rock Club, and they've also had Band of Horses, James Bay, George Ezra, and Phoenix.  Stay in the loop by signing up for these performance slots on XRT's website. You do need to win a space at these performances, but all you need to do is fill out an online form (no crazy call-in contests) and they seem to do a fair job of rotating winners.

Catfish and The Bottlemen at the BCBS Stage

The Virgin Hotel

In general, The Virgin Hotel is one of the best places in the city...on earth, even.  I've had the luxury of actually staying at the Virgin Hotel once, but I've been there more than a couple dozen times for events over the past two years.  Besides hosting killer DJ sets from artists like Questlove, Haim,and Wild Belle, they've had plenty of live shows by the likes of The Orwells, Parquet Courts, Grizfolk, Coasts, HAELOS and Seinabo Sey...just to name a few. The shows are for the most part free with an RSVP, and most of the DJ sets happen on the rooftop, free views included.  The best part is, the hotel has all the amenities of a luxury hotel without an added snooty factor... Employees are friendly and welcoming, and they're always up for hosting non-hotel guests at their events. Next month, they're hosting a free gig on February 11th with American Grizzly, Lucille Furs, and Joe Bordenaro & The Late Bloomers.  Head to their Twitter page for all the latest details. 

Broods at Virgin Hotels Chicago

For even more free live music in Chicago, follow local record stores, like Reckless Records and Shuga, on social media for any in-store performance opportunities, sign up for Sofar Sounds' mailing list, and text "LOUNGE" to 312-101 for updates on Sound Lounge performances at WKQX's studio (they tend to be harder to get into than the XRT ones, but good luck!) You can even sign up for street team positions at local venues to score free tickets to gigs. As always, keep your eyes on ANCHR's Twitter, as we also give away free gig tickets from time to time. 

And there you have it... your guide to seeing more live music this year!

P.S. If you're not in Chicago, you should still look into local record stores and radio stations, Sofar Sounds, and street teaming for free gig opportunities.

Words and Photos by Rachel Zyzda

Big Thief Deliver a Powerful Set at TNK Fest Night One

The Brooklyn-based band headline a sold out Schubas as part of Chicago's annual Tomorrow Never Knows Festival

“Best song of 2017!” exclaims at audience member, after the Brooklyn based band Big Thief finish their popular track “Paul.”  It’s a Wednesday evening at a completely packed Schubas Tavern, and the first night of Chicago’s annual 5-day festival Tomorrow Never Knows.  “We’ve got a long way to go….I hope we can make it,” lead singer Adrianne Lenker responds. 

Forty minutes prior to this exchange, give or take a few minutes, the usually four-piece Big Thief made their way on stage sans guitarist Buck Meek, opening with a new track “Cut My Hair.”  It’s nearly midnight by the time the band starts, headlining a stellar line up of Campdogzz, Hoops, and Sam Evian, but from the minute Adrianne sang out the first line of her narrative-style lyrics, the crowd was mesmerized.  After playing new tracks called “Those Girls” and “Shark Smile,” Big Thief played some crowd favorites, “Vegas” and “Real Love” from their debut album Masterpiece.  The title track of the debut album immediately followed, the crowd singing along with Adrianne’s cutting, yet delicate vocals. 

Big Thief at TNK Festival 2017

The streak of older tunes ended and more new tunes followed, each still possessing Adrianne’s signature story-telling structure and emotive delivery.  Before playing the tune “Parallels” from the first album, Adrianne addressed the heavy presence of new songs on the set list, saying “We’re doing a lot of new songs, and we’re gonna do a few more…but not at this moment.”  Cut to the band playing “Paul,” and the exchange that happened between an enthusiastic fan and Adrianne.

Despite the fact that they were missing a band member, the remaining three bandmates all displayed incredible musicianship, with a no frills stage set up (they even had handwritten set lists) that allowed for the crowd to focus solely on the music.  Adrianne chatted briefly a few times between songs, connecting with the audience, but the rest of the time it was like Adrianne, James, and Max were in their own world with a magnetic energy coursing between each of them on stage.  The band managed to further lure in their audience by being so well connected and in-tune with each other.  

The hour-long set winded down with a couple more older tracks, including “Velvet Ring” and the single “Humans.”  Adrianne chatted to the still-mesmerized crowd before their final song, thanking everyone for coming out and mentioning they already have a new record finished.  “We’re just getting ready to make some copies of it.  It’s gonna come out in the spring, and a lot of these songs will be on there,” she continued.  The set wrapped up around 12:50AM, with a new track shown on the set list as “Terminal.” 

Keep up with all the latest on Big Thief and their upcoming album by heading to their website and signing up for the mailing list.  To hold you over until you can hear the new stuff, grab a copy of Masterpiece here.