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Echo and the Bunnymen Cover Lou Reed and James Brown in Chicago

Echo and the Bunnymen's Ian McCullochThe Icelandic volcano might have prevented UK bands Bad Lieutenant and Two Door Cinema Club from making their scheduled appearances in Chicago this week, but British group Echo and the Bunnymen, who were already in the States to play Coachella last weekend, showed up at Metro in Chicago Wednesday night without a hitch.

"It's nice to be back in Chicago," sunglasses-clad lead singer Ian McCulloch mumbled to the crowded house, most of which were of the 35-and-over set. Instead of performing songs from last year's 'The Fountain,' Echo went the nostalgic route and opened with 'Going Up' from their 1980 debut record, 'Crocodiles.' As the dark wave music swirled around the shadowy and smoky room, McCulloch lit up a cigarette and added to the haze. Sporadically, the ragged-voiced McCulloch paused to banter with the crowd, but a combination of his thick accent and a muddled sound system turned his thoughts into incomprehensible gibberish, making one audience member joke they needed subtitles.

The band moved on from their moody rock and played the poppier 'Stormy Weather' from 'Siberia,' 'Bedbugs and Ballyhoo,' 'I Think I Need it Too' from 'Fountain' and 'Seven Seas' from their quintessential record, 'Ocean Rain,' and songs from 'Heaven Up Here, 'Evergreen' and 'What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?' were also well-represented. Naturally, Echo waited until the end of their set to perform biggest hits 'Killing Moon' and the middle-eastern tinged 'The Cutter.'

During the encore of 'Nothing Lasts Forever,' McCulloch channeled his inner Lou Reed and covered the beginning of 'Take a Walk on the Wild Side.' The mash-up continued when the band somehow went from the raucousness of 'Do It Clean' into a line from '50s standard 'When I Fall in Love', then hit upon a little of James Brown's 'Sex Machine.' The guys walked offstage again and came back for one more number, 'Lips Like Sugar.' The extended version consisted of McCulloch slowing down the tempo, speaking the lyrics, then bringing the song back on course. After punting what looked like a jacket into the balcony, McCulloch culminated 'Sugar' and an evening in which he performed much of his vast discography.

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RickO

Sorry...There is no bigger fan than me.

I had leave after 60 minutes. I walked out. I couldn't take it anymore.

Mac's vocal mix, and Will's guitar mix were each awful. Um...that's what I wanted to hear. The drummer sucked (no passion at all). I didn't get the other guys.

I should have listened to my guitar player who wouldn't go to the show. He wanted to keep his old memories of the early '80s at the Park West. I should have listened.

Mac: "knock knock" who's there "Yorick" yorick who? "Yorick Hunt"

ha ha ha ha lemme outta here Calgon take me away.

April 26 2010 at 11:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to RickO's comment
VicL

I agree with RickO. I'm reading all the raving reviews and trying figure out what I missed.

I'm a huge fan and am willing to cut Echo some slack but having trouble with this one. Acoustics were a disaster. Guitars overpowered the songs, drumming just bad, Ian way off vocally, unintelligible, and seemed to be floating in outer space most of the time.

2006 was quite amazing compared to this show.

April 26 2010 at 6:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gestell

I was there and it was seriously like Echo And The Bunnymen time machine!! Mac busted out all the old hits I wanted to hear (except Read It In Books and The Puppet) Oh well! It was a phenomenal show and Mac sounded great although he was unable to hit some big notes. My favourite was All My Colours....mesmerising and very dark. Leaving the show I could swear I was walking out of the Bismark circa 1985 and headed to Exit or Neo....It was that good!!!

April 22 2010 at 1:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply