Belle and Sebastian Give Away Footballs and Medals in Chicago

On Monday night, thousands packed the Chicago Theatre for Belle and Sebastian's first show in the city in four years. The Scottish collective didn't disappoint, treating the seated audience to a two-hour set of classics and a few new songs.

With a reservoir of countless tracks to choose from, the 11-piece, multi-instrumental group opened with new song 'I Didn't See It Coming' from their latest album, 'Write About Love,' which is out now. Wearing a jacket and a scarf, lead singer Stuart Murdoch said, "It's Monday night, but I'm still in a dancing mood" before breaking into older song 'I'm a Cuckoo.' Murdoch then stripped off his jacket and scarf and got down to business dancing in place.

After playing 'Step Into My Office, Baby,' Murdoch suggested the audience stand up, a command everyone obeyed. "Chicago is sort of a place people live in and get on with it, but in New York, they show off a lot," he quipped, noting that Chicago is a "second city" like Glasgow.

Murdoch then asked if anyone in the audience had mascara and, luckily for him, a woman did. As he sung the ballad 'Lord Anthony,' she jumped onstage and applied the makeup to his lashes. After dedicating 'The Stars of Track and Field' to those who ran the Chicago Marathon over the weekend, Murdoch brought out a few footballs as a gift to give to the children in the audience. He spotted a couple of kids in the balcony and tossed the balls up to them, joking how the autographed souvenirs might put the kids through college one day. Murdoch punted more towards the pit and balcony, but a couple of the balls hit the balcony and fell to the seats below. "In Chicago, no one can catch," he said, summing up Chicago sports.

The games continued when Murdoch handpicked a few audience members to dance with him onstage. The band performed 'The Boy with the Arab Strap,' and Murdoch then placed medals around the necks of the brave dancers, hugging each of them. After ending their set with 'Sleep the Clock Around,' Belle and Sebastian came back for a two-song encore of 'Judy and the Dream of Horses' and 'Me and the Major,' replete with a bluesy harmonica. By this time, the group had exhausted their bag of tricks and opted to wave goodbye without any fanfare.