Posted on Friday 16 January 2009
Walking into Schuba’s Tavern at approximately 9:15 PM, the temperature read as -8 degrees on the bank across the street’s digital screen. Walking out a few hours later, the same screen noted -23 degrees. It is COLD in Chicago. The frigid, dry conditions did little to keep fans at bay, however, from Schuba’s 2nd night of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival. Following three semi-local groups, the full house was treated to an incredible set by the one and only Department of Eagles.
In Ear Park has been a staple to my iTunes rotation since its release this past fall. The hauntingly beautiful melodies to “Around the Bay” and “No One Does it Like You” have possessed me to push the Grizzly Bearsish side project onto everyone I’ve discussed music with since last October. The duo can make some pretty amazing music, and those in attendance of last night’s Chicago set were not disappointed.
Daniel Rossen, Fred Nicolaus and crew took to the cozy, snug stage around the midnight mark. Rossen, sporting a red pullover hoodie, opened up the set, remarking on the “pretty interesting” weather, taking swigs simultaneously of coffee and Goose Islands.
Kicking things off, Department of Eagles started off with an acoustic, hushed version of “Phantom Other.” Rossen later commented that the group rarely performs live, but listening to the seamless, gorgeous and delicate live renditions of “Around the Bay,” and “Waves of Rye” you would never guess it. Rossen also busted out an older JoJo cover, as well as two new songs which titles I didn’t catch and another older gem from their first album that Rossen commented was a track they “never really share, but is fun to play—but is never played,” because, like I said, they “don’t play concerts.”
Well, last night was proof enough for me that these guys need to stick around on the road for a while. While “No One Does it Like You” was stripped of the album’s layered samples and percussion, the combined raw vulnerability of simple guitars and Rossen’s vocals was more than enough to blow the crowd away. This song alone was more than worth the hike down Southport Ave, yet my only disappointment is that they didn’t play “Teenagers.” The show as a whole was an hour full of warmth and intimacy—the polar opposite of the frozen hellacious tundra awaiting Chicagoans beyond the confinement of the venue.
Did anyone else catch this show? What were your highlights? Anyone checking the other Tomorrow Never Knows sets?
Buy: Department Of Eagles
++
Myspace: Department of Eagles
MP3: Department of Eagles – “No One Does It Like You Do”
