Friday night, Lady MXV and I went to see CH3 and Destroy everything play at Memories Bar in Chicago. In what could go down as the most idiotic booking decision in history, the show was set to start at 9pm and there was 6 bands on the bill! Needless to say that I had zero interest in sitting in a smoky bar that long and from the number of people I knew who were planning to go but didn’t, apparently the over-bloated bill was quite the deterrent.
Godzilla
Godzilla
Godzilla
We tried to time it so we would miss most of the opening acts and just see Destroy Everything and CH3. We almost timed it out perfectly too, getting there one band before Destroy Everything. That band was Godzilla, and they feature a member of CH3 so I was actually interested in checking them out. Their blend of punk rock made for a good soundtrack for hanging out and drinking and I’d certainly not mind seeing them again open a show somewhere.
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything were up next. I’ve actually lost count now how many times I’ve seen them play because the band is made up of some of my best friends. This time out they played mostly new material from their upcoming album and the new stuff sounded really good live. As usual the band was in good spirits and in fine form and I have yet to see them put on a sub-par set. The crowd in attendance were enjoying them quite a bit as well.
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
That just left CH3. Sadly I was only able to see about the first five songs or so of their set before we had to get Lady MXV home to her kids. I felt really bad for not being able to stay for their whole set, let alone for any post-show hanging out but you can blame that solely on the ridiculously over-inflated lineup and late starting time for this show. Had it started earlier or there been a manageable number of bands on the bill we would have been able to enjoy the entire show and not miss out on seeing some friends band from CA play a rare show here in my town! Anyway the songs I did see were a mix of old and new songs and they all sounded great. I really wish I could have seen the rest and they didn’t even get to play “Manzanar” before I had to go and that is my favorite song of theirs! Hopefully they’ll come back again sometime soon and I’ll be able to enjoy their full set. Sorry about having to go guys, but I did really enjoy what I got to see.
So despite my having to cut things short, the stuff I did see was a good time and I drove home happy to have seen that, but ideally I would have liked to see the whole thing. Many thanks to Mike and Kimm of CH3 for putting us on the list and for the soon to be reviewed new CH3 7″.A few more photos after the jump.
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
Destroy Everything
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3 and Clorox Girls really deserved better than that. This show should have been an all ages show at the Beat Kitchen or SubT with CH3, Destroy Everything, Clorox Girls, and the Red Dons. Three touring bands, one local, early show time, bigger crowd, bigger cut for the bands, everyone leaves happy.
Or it could’ve stayed at Champs like it was supposed to be. Either way, a really cool opportunity blown.
Blame it on Rose Red, those guys suck hard at booking shows.
They always book shows where the venue ends up changing multiple times from when the show is first announced up until the show date and they always add way too many bands to the line-up.