Show review: Boris at Metro, 10/19

By Andrew Hertzberg

(Photos: Shannon Aliza)

It only took until the third song for the mosh pit to come into full effect Wednesday night at Metro. Opening with "Riot Sugar" from this year’s Heavy Rocks (not to be confused with 2002's Heavy Rocks), the sludgy and heavy yet snail paced rock of Boris put the crowd in a trance, until "Statement" from Smile, with its 1-2 cowbell countoff into a Stoogesesque guitar moan, before dropping off into a droning lead-in to "Attention Please," 4AD worthy dreampop off this year’s album of the same name. The four piece were all clad in black (with long hair to match), the most charismatic being drummer Atsuo, situated between his pink see-thru drumkit and a giant Zildjian gong, bouncing between fast paced beats and jazz-like fills, likewise providing background whoops and hollers and general crowd interaction. Takeshi held onto his double necked bass/guitar combo and took lead for the more ferocious and moshpitable songs, with Wata behind the keys and providing her vocals for the dreamier tunes.

For those who weren’t at the show, you might have noticed a few keywords that stood out within contrast to each other. You see, the Japanese band is generally boiled down to the drone/doom genres of metal, but they certainly branch out into the other areas as well. The group can just as easily elicit the band in which they took their namesake (the Melvins) as the dynamic post-rock of Explosions in the Sky or even the slowcore catharsis of Red House Painters. Amongst the other thing you should have noticed from that first paragraph, Boris have two new albums out this year, with a third on the way for our shores (New Album was released in Japan in March). The three albums find the band at the most diverse and most divisive, spanning a multitude of sub-genres to create an unpredictable listener response.

Zigzagging between shoegaze walls of sound with more aggressive metal jams, alternating male and female vocals while also yelping random whoops and hollers, Boris will keep you guessing. Nowhere was this better examined than in the set closer of "Aileron" (the Heavy Rocks (2011) version, not the Attention Please (2011) version…stay with me). What started out as an innocently appregiated guitar lead soon exploded back into the droning noise with cavernously reverbed vocals and back again several times. Our fellows in the aforementioned moshpit were certainly confused (especially after such upbeat pieces as "Pink"). Maybe that’s what led to that one dude choke-slamming someone and subsequently being taken care of Metro security. Hell of a night.

More photos after the jump

Show preview: Boris at Metro, 10/19

By Andrew Hertzberg

(photo credit: Miki Matsushima)

Japanese drone metal group Boris are making their way through Chicago next week in support of their newest album Heavy Rocks from earlier this year. What’s that? Oh. It’s also in support of Attention Please released earlier this year also…seriously? Ok, I guess they also have a new album, New Album, coming out which is getting its official American release next month. So. They’ve got three new albums under their belt. And really, to simplify them as drone metal is quite inaccurate. Especially considering the influx of new material, you can expect some dream pop, sludge, post-rock, shoegaze, acoustic jams even? (I mean, they do have an album cover that’s a direct reference to Nick Drake) It’s gonna be quite the dynamic, ear-blistering episode to say the least, and may be the only show to go from haunting to abrasive with the click of a pedal.  

This is all happening next Wednesday the 19^th at the Metro. Tera Melos and Coliseum open things up ($16 advanced / $18 day of, 8 PM, 18+). Click on over here for tickets. Below, check out the split black and white / white and black videos for ‘Hope’ and ‘Riot Sugar’ off of Attention Please and  Heavy Rocks (respectively). 

(Japanese noise bonus: can’t get your fix soon enough? Melt Banana play Subterranean this Sunday the 16^th with just as noisy locals Rabble Rabble and Swimsuit Addition opening.

Weekend show picks: English Beat, Del Rey and more

Del Rey

If you're in the mood for live music this weekend there are plenty of great options around the city, including a classic 2 Tone ska band, hard rock via Japan and some very cool locally-based indie acts. Here are some picks for Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

Friday, August 13

-The English Beat at Double Door with Bad Manners and Chris Murray - It would be tough to have a live show more fun than that of this quintessential 2 Tone ska/new wave band featuring vocalist and guitarist Dave Wakeling. A guaranteed good time. Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., $25, 21 and over. Tickets.

- Boris at Metro with Russian Circles and The Life & Times - This hard-hitting experimental rock band out of Japan and are sure to deliver a memorable set tonight at Metro as they pass through our city in the middle of their current American tour. Doors 8 p.m., show 9 p.m., $17, 18 and over. Tickets.

Saturday, August 14

- Secret Colours at Beat Kitchen with Panda Riot and Geronimo! - Earlier this week we let you know about a free download of a very cool Beatles cover by this Chicago psych-pop unit, which gives a good idea of the spacey, fuzzy sounds you can expect to hear during their live show. Also check out their recently released self-titled record to see why this band is quickly gaining recognition in and out of the Windy City. Doors 10 p.m., show 10:30 p.m., $10, 17 and over. Tickets.

- Del Rey at the Empty Bottle with Bear Claw and This Is Versailles - Another solid option for Saturday night comes via Chicago indie/experimental band Del Rey, who are preparing to release a new album, Immemorial, and tour Europe this Fall. 10 p.m., $8, 21 and over. Tickets. 

Sunday, August 15

- Golden Birthday at The Empty Bottle with Heavy Times and Altered States - This local, lo-fi minimalist pop act has a sound perfect for chilling out on a Sunday night. 7 p.m., $3, 21 and over. Tickets.