Camp Counselor Carmel Reviews Fall Stash at House of Blues Chicago

All Star Vibe Entertainment as their official launch party. This show was BIG for all the bands on the lineup and it was easy to see why. While each group is starting to establish themselves within the Chicago jam scene, yet one couldn’t be more different than the next. I arrived at the venue towards the end of The Ars Nova set and was surprised by this young band’s versatility. While they have only played Summer Camp once, they presented as a fresh but talented group of musicians with “ROCK STAR” written all over their faces. They finished hard and strong covering everything from reggae to shredding rock and roll, all in a matter of minutes. I immediately regretted not heading to the House of Blues earlier to catch their whole set. So it goes… [caption id="attachment_20978" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Photo by Kristine Condon Photography[/caption] Thinner Teed was up next. This refined local act has played Summer Camp thrice and have an approach that is much different than most jambands. Their vision is controlled with a style that contains strong melodies. Brad Richter isn’t the type of guitarist to just go off the rails whenever the opportunity presents itself. In fact, the loudest member of the group was bassist Jeff Urban with his infectious grooves that managed to tie the whole Thinner Teed story together. Therefore a lot of the “flare” was presented by Jason Kearney’s keys. Ultimately, the most impressive element of this group is the way each member listened to what the others were doing, hence the magic of improvised music. [caption id="attachment_20984" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Photo by Kristine Condon Photography[/caption] Everyone takes a shot at vocals in Thinner Teed. This gives songs like “Day by Day” a type of resonance that adds layers to their mature compositions. Overall, they presented a progressive setlist that concluded on a high note with the song “Creature.” Jeff Urban’s dad even joined the group on harmonica making the patriarch resemble a Baptist preacher bringing it all home at the end of Sunday service. It was spiritual, to say the least. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkloQiO72og&feature=youtu.be Lake Shore Vibe has been on my radar for a couple years now ever since I caught them at Summer Camp in 2013. What I enjoy most about this group is how each song sounds very different from the next. LSV’s variety of influences creates a radioactive core within their essence. Therefore, they consistently emit an energy that feels familiar, no matter what direction their jams take them. [caption id="attachment_20981" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Photo by Kristine Condon Photography[/caption] For Fall Stash, the dueling axe men of LSV often took center stage at the House of Blues where Josh Kremer’s powder blue guitar licks were perfectly complemented by Justin Reckamp’s jet black solos. The combination sailed LSV’s jams into shred territory time and time again. But it was the lulls in their set that often led to magic, much like a calm before a storm. Songs like “Step Inside” started off slow and controlled but eventually raged into the fun aspect of jam music. In fact, “fun” might be the most consistent element of this band. Lake Shore Vibe touched on everything from honkytonk to shredding jams that night, sometimes even in the same song! [caption id="attachment_20980" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Photo by Kristine Condon Photography[/caption] The final act of the night was one of my favorites… Spread is an improvisational act that formed in Carbondale and have been playing Summer Camp since 2010. Much like the other groups at the House of Blues that night, Spread originally got on the fest’s lineup by winning Summer Camp’s On the Road competition. Now that they have been playing Summer Camp for a few years, their reputation is finally starting to seep its way into conversations throughout the Chicagoland area. I’ve seen Spread quite a few times and they always seem to satiate my musical palate, especially when it comes to long, expansive jams. Right out the gates Spread jumped into their set at the House of Blues with a full force of energy. Their approach to live shows always feels like a spaceship sailing off into the unknown where each song can launch into a different direction at any moment. Out of all the other acts that night, Spread was probably the jammiest of them all. [caption id="attachment_20982" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Photo by Kristine Condon Photography[/caption] The four piece group eventually added horns to the mix with Marty Gierczyk on saxophone and Maurice Cade on trombone, both musicians are members of the notorious Chicago Funk Mafia. Their addition to Spread’s lineup gave a funky flair that I just couldn’t help but dance to. They busted out “Hey Pocky Way” and suddenly the HOB felt like a small club in New Orleans, which is probably my favorite city in the whole wide world. Spread ended their set with a long, extensive version of “Get Out of My Life Woman” before finally calling it a night. [caption id="attachment_20979" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Photo by Kristine Condon Photography[/caption] Needless to say, this was a legendary showcase show! Fall Stash was the type of night that established these jam machines as the future of Chicago’s live music scene. While every single one of these acts has played Summer Camp in the past, we will be seeing much more of them in years to come, so keep your eyes, and ears pealed for The Ars Nova, Thinner Teed, Lake Shore Vibe, and Spread!]]>