Trouble @ Avondale Music Hall, Chicago (US)

'Heavy Chicago - Day 1': TROUBLE / ACID KING / BONGZILLA / NOVEMBERS DOOM

Date: 28th October, 2023
Venue: Avondale Music Hall
Ticket Price: $35 / €33 (single day-pass) 
Promoter: Last Rites

The concert circuit has not recovered yet, and with the increased prices neither have the people who would like to attend more shows than their budget allows them to. In the middle of this chaotic situation, it is promising seeing festivals making their debut. 'Heavy Chicago' made its debut on October 28th with TROUBLE being the headliners of the first of the three days (next two days are November 04th and 05th). Speaking of the headliners, this was meant to be TROUBLE's first live performance in five years.

This was our first show in Avondale Music Hall, and the first thing I noticed was the big room in front of the stage which was high enough to watch the band from any angle. The sound was great but the stage lights left more to be desired. Additional spotlights and a bit of color would have helped a lot. California’s ACID KING were already buzzing on stage delivering their Stoner-meets-Doom Metal with massive bass / drum rhythm section, fuzzy guitar distortion, and Lori's characteristic singing. I think we entered the venue somewhere in the middle of "Destination Psych", and by the time ACID KING were reving up their engine with "Beyond Vision" I had secured a great viewing point and enjoyed the last songs of their set. Groove and guitar tone is the alpha and omega in this music gerne, and ACID KING sound like they own this, and this is why they had locked the attendees' attention. Without wasting any precious time (although based on the schedule they were running a tad late), they finished their set with "Color Trails" with the fantastic riff-based build-up. The pre-recorded keyboards and heavy-boots-of-lead bass, followed by the drums pounding, passed the baton to the full distortion and the yet again massive ACID KING sound. After this groove and guitar tone, serving a simple "thanks so much" was enough to drop the curtain and entice me to take a close listen to the band's latest record "Beyond Vision".

ACID KING

What also felt great was seeing this strong attendance while the stage was getting ready to mark the return of the almighty TROUBLE in a live setting. It feels awkward seeing an old friend after five years, especially when you are at an age range when the passing of time does change you. However, this does not apply to music and to Metal in particular, meaning the moment the taped intro ended with TROUBLE onstage and the guitars lifting the figuratively curtain with "The Sleeper", the passing of time became irrelevant. In hindsight, and with the legendary guitar duo of Wartell and Franklin kicking off my favorite "At The End Of My Daze", with Kyle Thomas sounding at his best, with Mark Lira grooving along with the sweetest hi-hat, and Rob Hultz holding the rhythm fort with his bass, I realized that there was a change. This will sound strange to say for a band that has been around since the late ‘70s, but this is the best form I have seen this TROUBLE lineup onstage. Not sure if they have been rehearsing their arses off, but the sound was unbelievable. "Thank you, Chicago, how are you feeling?" asked Kyle, who was sporting a white beard, before letting the massive riff of "The Wolf" mark the TROUBLE territory. No matter how many times I’ve seen Bruce Franklin's guitar playing, I am still amazed by his Jimi Hendrix-meets-Ritchie Blackmore style. Let alone his explosive passion when performing that is impossible to resist. Oh yeah, the cowbell is always a delight to hear in this one. Rick 'I have stopped aging' Wartell joined Bruce for the Doom Metal defining riffs of the 39-year old "Assassin", which followed "The Eye" without stopping.

I have to disagree with Kyle when he said “the more you drink the better we sound”... Well, of course he was joking as I am sure the band knew that everything sounded great, with "The Truth Is, What Is", and the SABBATH-esque proto Doom served by the riffs and chorus melodies of "Psalm 9" without pause. Rick and Bruce exchanged solos like it was the easiest thing to do in "Memory's Garden", which brought to mind Eric Wagner wearing his John Lennon sunglasses in the music video, released some decades ago. Rick's guitar sounded extra grim in the first part of "The Skull" and because of this, the faster part felt heavier than ever. I guess, following this one with the lighter "Mr. White" was the right call, although I think the nostalgia of yesteryear had a stronger grip during this one. "We’ve actually started recording new songs," said Kyle and before getting our hopes too high thinking we would be getting a taste of the upcoming record, he introduced the next one as a love song... in the form of the hard-hitting rhythm of "Hunters Of Doom" that by the way talks about the end of times.

It was time for Bruce to step in front of Kyle's mic stand and said: "Eric, Rick and I built this band from the ground up," and this statement changed the atmosphere right away. You see, during the five years that TROUBLE had not played live, Eric Wagner departed from this world and therefore this lineup did not have the chance to pay homage from the stage. This felt very emotional, but it was absolutely appropriate, especially the way the band performed "Requiem" with Bruce, Kyle and Rick lead-singing each verse. Hearing the story about how this song came to be struck hard, and added a little more in the overall sadness. But hey, music lives on and there is no way to forget Eric who is in our hearts. Kyle returned to his lead-singing duties for the faster and heavier"All Is Forgotten" that was a welcomed "pick me up" after this emotionally loaded moment. "Make some noise for Eric," Kyle said and looked towards the sky as if he could see him. Then, it was time for the spoken lines reading "I am the tempter, ruler of hell, bringer of evil, beware" to bring the headbanging quality time of "The Tempter", especially after hearing Kyle introducing this one as "one more" before the end. The combination of headbanging and singing-along felt so relieving but we could not let TROUBLE go backstage and not return for "one more". The loud " TROUBLE,  TROUBLE" chanting did bring the five-piece lineup back onstage who delivered the TROUBLE-trademark BLACK SABBATH cover of "Supernaut". Watching Bruce delivering the historic riff of "Supernaut" (more cowbell please) like it was the first time he was performing live is (as always) a delight. I had no idea that Kyle had those dancing moves in him and, in fact, he and Rob had a short choreography planned for this (no spoilers, I hope you can watch that sooner than later).

Right after the ends of their set, Kyle and Rick showed up at the merch table and were as excited as we were after seeing TROUBLE onstage. Hearing that the band is planning to release "a killer album" (we absolutely trust the person who told us this) was the cherry on the top of this set and was an added reason leaving Avondale Music Hall  wearing the widest of smiles. Thank you, TROUBLE and hope to see you soon.

TROUBLE setlist:

01. Intro / “The Sleeper”
02. “At The End Of My Daze”
03. “The Wolf”
04. “The Eye”
05. “Assassin”
06. “The Truth Is, What Is”
07. “Psalm 9”
08. “Memory's Garden”
09. “The Skull”
10. “Mr. White”
11. “Hunters Of Doom”
12. “Requiem”
13. “All Is Forgiven”
14. “The Tempter”
15. “Supernaut” (BLACK SABBATH cover)

TROUBLE