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indie-snob>+!#
Neko case @ old town (1-23-04)
With john & laurie stirratt |
 Neko Case at the Metro, by Matt Carmichael It may not be obvious from this site, but I'm a terrible sucker for alt-country. It may have been my early love for Wilco (it was about the age of nine I started listening to them) or just the fact it's deeply rooted in Chicago's music scene, but there is no doubt that Neko Case is one of the stars of Bloodshot Records [the forerunner of alt-country]. Perhaps more recognized with indie audiences through her work with the New Pornographers, Neko is the red-haired sultry indie rock temptress who won Playboy's contest for the sexiest woman in indie rock (followed by Ida No of Glass Candy). So I was supposed to see this show back in December (December 12 to be exact) when I missed Low and the Detachment Kit (opening for Coheed and Cambria) all to see Neko, however, just before I was ready to leave, I checked my mail, which said Neko had bronchitis and would not be performing. Great, so I was missing three shows. But alas, I cannot be mad at Neko for getting sick, and all was forgiven once she rescheduled. When John and Laurie Stirratt came out, I knew I recognized them somehow. I later realized that John Stirratt is the bass player for the world-famous Chicago band…. Wilco! Oh how our alt-country scene is connected! And, while he and his twin sister Laurie may not be as recognized, they are still amazing musicians. Both on acoustic guitar, their voices harmonized wonderfully as they sang acoustic folk ballads. As much as I say I love a lot of today's more faddish musical genres (disco punk most seemingly), folk is quite honestly my first love, so when performers achieve something as pure and honest as genuine folk music, few things can do better. The Stirratts were no exception, and the chemistry between them made the performance all the better. I'm not sure if their album has come out, but I know that if you live in Chicago, go to Laurie's Planet of Sound (in Lincoln Square by Old Town) and go to the Bloodshot section and pick out the Hideout sampler where they have a song. Grade; A- While Neko's latest venture (Blacklisted) is a full band record, for most of the performance, she played solo with only her 4-stringed tenor guitar. Along with her was a bassist and someone on slide guitar/pedal steel/banjo. And while shows at Old Town tend to be a little quiet, sometimes the room was eerie and Neko belted out her folk and soul tinged vocals. Dressed in sweats, it was a little odd to see her as the "sex goddess" she's so often portrayed as. I was surprised to not hear more of my favorite songs from the critically acclaimed Blacklisted, but I suppose the dynamic of a limited band made it difficult. In that way, Neko's set was a bit disappointing to me since it was really the only album I had enough experience with to appreciate excessively. However, falling in love with Neko is not difficult, and if she wanted to play "Alone and Foresaken" and "Make Your Bed" from her rare EP Canadian Amp, that was okay by me. Since the show, I've listened to Neko Case so much, that I have such a deep connection with each and every song, and at this point, it's difficult to remember her precise set. But in this way, I think it's just as effective: Neko is not one to make hits, and perhaps that is better left up to her role in the New Pornographers. More than most others in her genre, Neko is amazing at satisfying moods, and the whole night was filled with this muted aching but deep beauty. It's clear to see which country influences she has drawn, but the way she makes them her own are what really seem to matter. While I do not doubt her or her band's technical abilities, it is this confidence that really reigns in Neko's music. As her voice filled the stage in soul-scraping songs like "I'll Be Around" and "I Wish I Was the Moon", I had no doubt that the future of Chicago's alt country scene is in good hands. Grade: A PS: I apologize for previously stating the Stirrats were married, they are in fact twins! Thanks to Laurie for pointing that out (as if she could have missed it), and once again, I apologize! Related reviews:
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