On Friday, April 12, Haley Blais returned to Chicago on tour for her new album Wisecrack. One week later, she released a deluxe edition of the album – now available to stream.

^{Article and photos by Finley Harrison}

Fans packed Roscoe Village’s Beat Kitchen to the brim in anticipation for Canadian singer-songwriter Haley Blais and her band. Chicago was the final stop on Blais’ “Wisecrack Tour,” and an eager crowd prepared to give her a proper sendoff. Six shows along the tour, including Chicago, were supported by Canadian singer-songwriter Charlie Houston. Together, the two artists brought a night of Kendrick Lamar covers, cowboy hats, and more to the Windy City.

Charlie Houston began their set with an unreleased song titled “The Descent.” Although few members of the audience knew the lyrics, the melodies were powerful enough to get each and every person’s head swaying in unison for the entire duration of the song. Following “The Descent” was “Calls,” the opening track of their 2021 EP I Hate Spring. The song serves as a sonic reminiscence of a relationship that had run its course. The chorus contains the lyrics, “Can’t help holding on to all our issues / How did we fall apart, was I the problem from the start? / Can’t help saying how I guess I miss you / Hoping you call, hoping you call me back,” which Houston beautifully recited to the attentive crowd. After performing another handful of songs, Houston asked the crowd if they’d heard of a new collaboration between Prince and Kendrick Lamar. In response, a few members of the audience nodded their heads, to which Houston responded with, “Really? Because I totally just made that up.” This light-hearted conversation served as a segway to the next song Houston performed, “I Would Die 4 You,” which they described as “what they think a collaboration between Prince and Kendrick Lamar would sound like.” “I Would Die 4 You” incorporates lyrics from Prince’s homonymous song and Kendrick Lamar’s “Swimming Pools (Drank).” Houston added their own personal flair to the melodies, creating an experimental yet wonderful masterpiece. Charlie Houston ended their set with another unreleased song titled “Spiral,” leaving audiences excited for their upcoming releases.

Shortly after Charlie Houston exited, Haley Blais and company entered the stage. Blais is supported on stage by guitarists Lindsay Sjoberg (who also accompanies her in band Babe Corner) and Alex Maunders, drummer Graham Serl, and keyboardist Andrew. She began her set with the opening track to her most recent album Wisecrack. As “Soft spot for monarchs” began, audiences swayed and sang along. In a manner that was somehow both erratic and peaceful, Blais repeated the song’s closing lyrics, “The only mercy that I give is for the bugs.” “Soft spot for monarchs” was followed immediately by “Survivor’s Guilt,” a moving, deeply relatable song that expresses Blais’ frustration with a person who does not respect, or even notice, the emotional cues she is sending. In frustrated synchronicity, an entire crowd begged the question “Can’t a girl mourn the death of a dog in the back of a theater in peace anymore?” As the show neared an end, Blais began the opening strums of her break-out song “Coolest F***ing B**** In Town.” As the song started, a member of the audience handed Blais a bedazzled cowboy hat that read “Coolest F***ing B**** In (Chi) Town.” The hat was passed around between Blais and her bandmates, resulting in collective laughs between captivating verses. Blais ended her set with an acoustic performance of “Be Your Own Muse,” a heartwarming and beautiful melody about maturing and coming to realize that you alone are enough. As the song came to an end, the concertgoers bid farewell to Blais and her band as both the set and the “Wisecrack Tour” came to an end. 

Today, April 19, marks one week since the tour ended, but only a few hours since Haley Blais released Wisecrack (Deluxe), which features her new single “Somebody’s Son” as well as “Concrete 2” — an alternative version of her song “Concrete” — and a live recording of “Survivor’s Guilt.” 

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Stream Haley Blais on Spotify below…