Cap'n Jazz Reunite in Chicago After 15-Year Hiatus

On Friday night, Chicago's Empty Bottle played host to a Joan of Arc variety show curated by frontman Tim Kinsella in honor of the band's new album, 'Don't Mind Control.' The event, featuring the bands of former members of Joan of Arc, was a big treat for loyal fans, but the real story behind Friday's show was the rumored Cap'n Jazz reunion that finally came to fruition halfway through the night.

Sets by tribal-folkies Pillars & Tongues, bedroom rockers the Zoo Wheel, and the three-way guitar attack of Disappears, among others, worked up the excited Chicago crowd and got them ready for what was to come. During the second half of the show, heads turned as Davey von Bohlen, Tim Kinsella, Mike Kinsella, Sam Zurick and Victor Villareal made their way to the stage and started setting up their equipment.

Introduced by the emcee as a "local cover band," Cap'n Jazz kicked off their first performance in fifteen years with 'Little League.' The older crowd pumped their fists in the air and sang along loudly with big smiles on their faces. It was clear from the palpable excitement in the room that this was the real reason Joan of Arc's show had sold out so quickly. With his hands shoved under his armpits for most of the set, singer Tim Kinsella made it seem like no time had passed at all as his scream shook the microphone like he was 21 all over again.

Cap'n Jazz filled out the rest of their short set with crowd pleasers 'Oh Messy Life,' 'We Are Scientists,' and 'Que Suerte,' barely stopping to acknowledge the crowd or the reunion they were currently participating in. Fans didn't seem to mind though, cheering loudly and flashing their cameras at the stage.

And just like that, Cap'n Jazz's reunion set ended just fifteen short minutes after it had begun. "Give it up again for local cover band! They're available now for graduation parties and bar mitzvahs. These guys are really going someplace," announced the emcee jokingly, as Cap'n Jazz made their way off stage.

While it's uncertain if the band will announce a full-on reunion tour or perhaps just another local Chicago date, the fact that they decided to give hometown fans what they wanted after all these years is more than enough for now.