Local Legends #13

Venue : GMAN Tavern
City : Chicago
Line Up : Dead Dead Swans, Torch the Hive, Shining Nothing

This isn’t my first GMAN Tavern show but it’s my first review and I gotta say its backroom venue is a cool little spot. It won’t hold a huge show, but it’s got a dedicated bar for whatever atmosphere you can fit on the stage. I’ve seen locals like Flake Michigan and Moonbird and the sound is versatile. Not too much bass but again with maybe 60 people max capacity you’re not looking to blow the roof off anyway. Plus, it’s literally neighbors (and I think owned as well by) the legendary venue The Metro which in turn essentially next to Wrigley Field. A cool shady corner of a sports epicenter.

Which is an excellent place to find someone like Dead, Dead Swans. I was able to actually chat a bit with John and he was a very open and kind guy outside of being an obvious talent. In fact, let me set the stage: play his song “Look It Up” and imagine a dark, candle lit bar full of a silent but intent crowd starring right at the stage. Where words and chatter once reigned you could now feel every note grasping for your soul’s attention just for a few short minutes, but we all gave them gladly. I would come to find that John knew almost the entire line up personally which made sense as he seemed so comfortable even just being in the crowd. “Curse the Factories” is a great track too, just for good measure.

Now if John commands the rooms silent attention, then Torch the Hive demands your blood. Pull up their song “seeds” and like my uncle always said, “buckle the fuck up kids cause I’m a little drunk.” Firstly, because I absolutely am but copious High Noons (not a sponsor...yet?) aside it’s going to absolutely send you. It’s chainsaw sharp and doesn’t let you go the entire time but don’t even get comfortable in the flames, play “Evil Men” right after. It’s a complete tonal shift towards a velvety surf ballad but still houses the rage that burns in the engine of this band. Great showmen as well, their drummer Kevin is fun to watch and has one of the best snare tones I’ve ever heard live, and Mike the front man leapt off stage enough to impress me but also didn’t miss a single note and was unstoppable.

They did have to stop though, eventually, because Shining Nothing needed a chance to bring it all home. Their self-titled track “Shining Nothing” is a really cool representation not just of them but of how the night felt with its chummy adventurous tone. They taught everyone a lesson also and brought their own smoke machine, which is genuinely something I think every musical artist of every genre should implement. It literally can only add mystery and make lights pop more but if you have songs like “Enough” it’s the perfect accessory. Maybe just rip your pen or incense a bunch and listen to their stuff on streams or through their available purchase locations because it’ll still be a wonderful experience. Catch them in person though if you ever get the chance.

Special shout out to Karbon Planet, they put the show together and are friends from the scene. They’re also an insanely talented musician in their own right that you can often catch at my own Open Mic so be sure to swing through. His “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” cover is genuinely legendary.