Editor’s note: Our good friend Ed is back for another review, namely because I’m old, lazy, and don’t like Thanksgiving Eve traffic.

Ed’s Review:

I have to admit I was beyond psyched when I heard Baroness was coming to Chicago on Black Wednesday, mainly because (1) it’s the beginning of a four day weekend, (2) Reggie’s is a great rock club, and (3) this band has created, in my opinion, the best hard rock album of 2009. These three reasons combined with a slew of friends that were attending (I think I ran into ten or fifteen people I knew at this show) made for quite a spirited and festive kick off to the Yuletide season indeed.

I arrived early with a friend and managed to catch the entire sets from openers U.S. Christmas and Earthless. We had a bit of a rough time enjoying U.S. Christmas, mainly because the guitarist/vocalist (who bore a striking resemblance to Jesus) had an interesting vocal ailment going on. In fact, we couldn’t really tell if he had a throat problem or if this was his actual voice, which is never a good question to be asking when watching a band play live. Earthless pretty much rocked it, and although their set sounded like one long 45-minute song, I heard everything from Blue Cheer to Ozric Tentacles to Swervedriver within this band’s frenzied style – a very satisfying, pulsing, and ultimately aggressive psychedelic rock experience.

Baroness finally took the stage and tore into a heavy-weighted set that oozed with confidence, almost to the point that at times it sounded simultaneously heavy and mellow, the way you would picture a secret tribal ritual full of bonfire guitar acrobatics and miles of dancing intoxicated beardos. They ripped through most of “Blue Record” with the obvious standout tracks “Jake Leg” and “The Gnashing” being highlights for sure. The chemistry between guitarists John Dyer Baizley and Pete Adams has definitely grown to a telepathic level (which could have contributed to the sense of aforementioned clockwork perfection going on) combined with their dense yet matching tones – creating a wall of sound almost peaceful in it’s collective desire to be unleashed upon the sold out crowd. Gone are the ear-piercing rough & tumble antics and sheer intimidation of the band’s earlier gigs a year or two back, as they now seem to be favoring a much more controlled chaos in an effort to reach complete tonal perfection, as if they are gearing up for something much more monumental – or apocalyptic – than simply moving on to the next city or on to the next club. And whether or not Baroness is trying to signal the beginning of the end of the world in sonic terms, or simply conveying a fresh and very ass-kicking new thread of hard rock music, it’s obvious that this is a band who is at the top of their game right now.

Ed’s Rating:

King says: “A Bullheaded night of ROCK in Chicago, for sure!”

Mark’s Review:

About a year ago Baroness played in Chicago at Reggie’s Rock Room, and after they were surprisingly omitted from the Opeth show a few weeks earlier, I was very eager to see them.  Well, for some reason, financial or female, I ended up not attending and soon regretted my decision because Baroness put on an unbelievable live show.  To me, it was a missed opportunity to see probably the fasted-rising band in metal play a small club just as they break into the “next level”.  Well sometimes a little patience and perseverance pays off, because after the release of probably the best metal album of 2009, Blue Record, the band announced that it would be returning to Reggie’s on the supporting tour!  Adding to my good fortune and timing, the show date was on “Black Wednesday”, a notorious night for bar drinking that makes Thanksgiving even more awkward when you surprise your family with your brand new DUI.  The stars had aligned, and it was well worth the wait.

Unlike Ed, I skipped the two opening acts playing in the main room and treated myself to some $3 Stellas at the adjoining bar.  Unfortunately, I was also treated to a power trio playing CSNY’s Deja Vu in it’s entirety.  A ballsy endeavor for sure, but their accomplishment was cheapened by eliminating any challenges the complex vocal harmonies might pose by playing them on a 12-string guitar.  After wishing that they just get to the “doo-doo, doo-do-DOO” part (the only iconic CSNY refrain I could conjure), I grabbed a Foster’s Oilcan and headed back next door to get a spot for the show.

You know that Baroness is a band that is truly at a crossroads when in front of a packed house of fans, they lug their own gear on stage, set up, then slink off to wait for their intro music to begin.  Opening with The Sweetest Curse and then quickly jumping into Jake Leg, the band was in complete control of the crowd and the moment.  The new material was dialed-in from only a few months of fresh touring and driven by the strained vocals and frenetic guitar noodling of John Baizely and Pete Adams.  There was no stage banter in between songs, only ambient volume swells that seemed to be perfectly timed to mask “on-the-spot” guitar tuning and instrument switching.  All this noise would then build to a crescendo and come together perfectly into the intro notes of the next song of the setlist.  Isak and The Birthing were some highlights from the Red Album, but unfortunately there was no Rays on Pinion, even in the encore.  The whole night was seamless, and it really shows the unique power and versatility of this band.  At the end, Baroness thanked the crowd and the fans for making the show possible.  I would like to thank them for giving me the ultimate do-over.

Mark’s Rating:

King says: “Best thing about seeing Baroness the night before Thanksgiving? Afterwards, Grandma cuts the turkey…”

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