I love this band's luscious sound and energy! Lillie West is originally from London but has lived in Chicago for the past decade....she announced this would be her last Chicago show but not where she would go...I wish her luck and I hope the music continues...

lalabandlala.bandcamp.com/album/i-want-the-door-to-open

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Tags:   Lillie West Lala Lala band live concert music West Fest headliner lights pink blue color colour cinematic fest festival

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I don't know what to really tell you about time because I barely understand it but over a decade ago, I came upon a band called The Wrens performing This is Not What You Had Planned at Schubas Tavern. I can't find my photos of this unfortunately and I have probably taken a million other photos since then. In another age, I'd have them stacked up from Chicago to Los Angeles but here and now it's just hard drive systems that mock me and explain that time is really an illusion...except it's not because people do die or they do have kids and those kids are now in high school. People get really sick, get married, have accidents.

This post was about The Wrens and Aeon Station, though, so here goes. I had lost touch with my feelings for The Wrens. I think I took a trip once and I left them in Madrid or something. Maybe it was because it wasn't something I could physically see or not see when I took my suitcase. This is my rambling way of explaining that I forgot about them. They weren't putting out albums and there were a whole slew of other bands who were and who I saw and photographed and time kept going over and over again.

Kevin Whelan was in the band The Wrens, who may or may not ever play again. It's anyone's guess considering how time is so wibbly wobbly (If I were a Timelord, many of my adventures might be going to old concerts). Anyway, I didn't really know if I was going to like Aeon Station as much. I thought it might be like when too much time passes between the time you see an old friend and you have nothing in common anymore. Friends, I freaking loved Aeon Station. This band's album, Observatory, is one of those albums that I'll remember melodies of at the end of the world when there's nothing to keep me company except my memories of chord progressions long past. Aeon Station, people, have a listen:

aeonstation.bandcamp.com/album/observatory


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Tags:   Kevin Whelan The Wrens Aeon Station Observatory band live concert music Square Roots Fest festival street fest

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I've been a Deerhoof fan since 2007. Their songs, often catchy, are experimental in a way that were impossible to predict for me. I wholeheartedly recommend checking out their music:

deerhoof.bandcamp.com/

I've posted a couple of shots before of lead singer Satomi Matsuzaki jumping and this one was just her upper torso because I felt that it provided an interesting closer image. I've often contemplated falling and the few seconds of bliss found when you aren't worrying about anything except maybe catching yourself. It's the moments before the pain and the exhilaration of just recalling what it's like to be alive. I think human flight is probably even more so like that and few can accomplish this feat like Satomi does.

What if an entire human existence could be comprised of this one moment?

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Tags:   Satomi Matsuzaki Deerhoof band live concert music experimental alternative monochrome human Monochrome Monday Black and white fest West Fest Noir et blanc Blanco y negro

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I was excited to see Haiku Hands from Australia open up West Fest on Friday night. Their music is very fun pop/dance music to listen to but live it's much more energetic and engaging in my opinion. Sometimes, I have to force myself to dance when the world is falling apart but I feel better afterwards. It doesn't mean I can't be sad and dance at the same time...but, that balance...

Have a listen....

haikuhands.bandcamp.com/album/haiku-hands-2

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Tags:   Claire Nakazawa West Fest Aussie Haiku Hands band live concert music fest festival

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I really enjoyed seeing/hearing this human, a Choctaw Nations songwriter from Oklahoma recently/Thursday night. Here's a link to her music:

samanthacrain.bandcamp.com/


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Tags:   Samantha Crain Choctaw musician music singer songwriter Pritzker Pavilian Millennium Park Native concert live

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