| The crowd at the Beat Kitchen was at
that critical mass where you can feed off the energy of your fellow clubmates without
desperately wishing for an opening to remove said clubmate's elbow from your ribcage. One
of my gripes about Chicago shows is that the crowds don't always look like they're having
fun even when they're viewing their favorite band on a good night. The crowd tonight
actually looked happy. Maybe it was the double fisted drinking I saw a few fans enjoying,
but I think it had more to do with the refreshing sound of the music onstage that night.
J for Jules play beautiful guitar pop. With twelve string
guitars, bright vocal hooks and a slightly goofy stage presence these guys could capture
any college market with ease. Singer Mark Wengelewski has a gritty, nasal, yet very
pleasant voice that reminded me of recent Soul Asylum records. For a testament to the
power of such a voice one only needs to remember that awkward looking Dave Pirner managed
to snag Winnona Ryder with his vocal prowess. The band member who constantly blew me away
this evening was drummer David A. Hart. Usually drummers this talented opt to play
heavier, faster and more complicated music. I'm so glad this guy is content pounding out
simple beats with absolute precision.
My only minor complaint of the evening came when X introduced a song as having been
"written on the way to the show that night." Please, tell us it's brand spanking
new, tell us you're still working out the finishing touches of this song, but don't expect
us to buy that somehow during sound check you were able to teach a four piece band a 5
minute song complete with vocal harmonies, two bridges and multiple versus. We're not that
drunk. Yet.
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