Friday night was an exciting night in Chicago because Eagles Of Death Metal made their return to headline a show at the beloved Metro. The place was packed full of fans eager for a good night of rock and roll.
First up was Mountain Head. This three piece hails from Canada and they played an interesting and unique blend of psych rock, pop, maybe a little bluegrass, and some elements of pop and alternative rock. They were all dressed in similar denim outfits and it appeared they. had metal teeth, or were wearing grills. Their 30 minute set was really quite enjoyable and if you’re able to catch them on this tour, make sure you show up on time.
The venue was absolutely packed by the time Eagles Of Death Metal took the stage and people were really amped up for them. Lead singer and guitarist Jesse Hughes came out on stage wearing a superhero cape and was twirling around as the rest of the band got ready to play and this just fired up the crowd even more. They opened with “Boy’s Bad News” and it sounded amazing and so full of energy. People in the crowd were smiling, clapping, singing, dancing, and just having a great time. They followed up with “Just 19” and the super catchy and infectious “Cherry Cola”. The band were super tight, the sound in the venue was spot on perfect, and the energy level was high for their entire set.
Jesse Hughes is a really charismatic frontman, and he spoke a lot between songs. Hughes told various stories, and usually ended them with “and that’s why I wrote this song for you all”. He comes across as extremely personable and the more he talked, the more you’d find yourself liking him. He also seemed very appreciative for the fan’s support that seems totally genuine and doesn’t come across as lip service in an effort to pop the crowd. During the various songs they played, he also was very animated, dancing around and getting the crowd worked up.
The band played a really impressive 90 minute set, which also included a great cover of Bowie’s “Heroes” before the climax of “Speaking In Tongues” that had Hughes running upstairs to do dueling guitar solos from the balcony with guitarist Scott Shiflett on stage! If there was one word to describe Eagles Of Death Metal live, it is just FUN. Their performance is incredibly fun and no matter what mood you may be in when you show up to see them play, they are guaranteed to make you smile and brighten your day. They are the epitome of good time rock and roll, and for 90 minutes they made everyone in the Metro forget about their troubles, forget about world events, and just let loose and have a good time. That is a true gift.
