Futurebirds and The Nude Party
As Chicago is teased by spurts of false spring warmth, it seems everyone in the city is craving the relaxation that comes with good weather. We got a taste of that warm summery soundtrack as Futurebirds, The Nude Party and Fonteyn hit up Thalia Hall for the Chicago stop of their tour.
Fonteyn opened up the stage, bringing soft folksy aesthetics and angelic vocals. A UK upbringing felt completely unexpected from her as she channels the warmth of 70’s American artists such as Carole King. Her music feels like a rediscovered second hand vinyl you find in a thrift store. Her song, “These Days” has these wonderful trailing vocals that sound like a hazy summer day.
The Nude Party walked onto the stage not long after, ready to jame. The seven piece band, consisting of Austin Brose, Alec Castillo, Shaun Couture, Patton Magee, Don Merrill, Conor Mikita and Jon “Catfish” Delorme, wore matching Canadian tuxedos that shimmered under the stage lights. Like Fonteyn, their music has similar foundations in 70’s Western folk, but simultaneously has a beachy sound. They played songs ranging from the slow “Sold Out of Love” to the slightly humorous “Cherry Red Boots” , a song about a woman the lead singer dated. During the set they brought Fonteyn back out on stage to sing a cover of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” which got the whole crowd singing. The Nude Party’s music was great to dance to live, but feels even better suited for driving through the desert on a Route 66 road trip or eating at a greasy diner at ten o’clock in the morning. It makes sense the Outer Banks crew wanted their music featured on the show’s soundtrack.
After The Nude Party, it was time for Futurebirds to take the stage. They started off with roaring energy, getting the crowd dancing. Members Thomas Johnson, Spencer Thomas, Carter King, Brannen Miles, Daniel Womack, Tom Myers, Kiffy Myers worked as a single unit, with stunning harmonies and cohesive instrumentation. Their music has a strong Americana feel, seeming like it could fit both at a concert venue or a dance hall. Their song “Trippin’” was a reflective song of youth with a hard-hitting chorus to match. The band also brought The Nude Party on stage for a massive cover of “Sympathy for the Devil”. It’s clear this tour is filled with camaraderie. Before long it was time for the show to end, and everyone was yearning for the musical warmth that filled the air of Thalia Hall on a cold March evening.
For future tour dates, you can follow Fonteyn, The Nude Party and Futurebirds on Instagram.