Illiterate Light Lit Up Schubas Tavern
Written by Natalie Silva
As December kicked off, Illiterate Light stopped in Chicago on their Arches Tour, bringing along their fellow Virginians, Palmyra. Illiterate Light and Palmyra brought a wonderful contrast of folk and alternative rock to the stage, and the evening was full of a unique and electric energy. Full of new and diehard fans alike, Schubas was buzzing from start to finish.
Up first was Palmyra, a trio who brought upbeat and bouncy tunes to the stage, and made an easy connection with the crowd through their friendly demeanor and chit chat. They showcased a perfect blend of guitar, banjo, and upright bass, and relatable lyrics that left the crowd wishing more of the songs were released. Crowd favorites were unreleased “Loser” and “Happy Pills,” off of their 2023 EP “Belladonna”. The band had swarms of people coming up to them after the show to express their enjoyment of the set, and their desire to have them return to the city, since this was Palmyra’s first show in Chicago.
After some sporadic crowd interaction between sets, Jeff and Jake of Illiterate Light took the stage. Right off the bat you could tell that they were performers. Not only did they physically fill Schubas, but they touched every corner of the venue with their spirit. They know how to rock, and they know how to make even the new fans or plus ones feel like they’ve known the band for years. They kept the performance moving and jam packed the set with a hefty list of songs to get through. Immediate crowd favorites were songs off of their newest album “Arches,” including “Payphone,” “Montauk,” and “Norfolk Southern”. Whether they were switching spots on stage, jumping into the crowd, or just jamming out in their own bubbles, the duo seemed to maintain an impressive adrenaline high the whole set.
Slowing down the set for intimate moments, like during drummer Jake’s solo song “Always Always,” balanced out the high energy and fast pace. They continued crowd engagement during “Blood Lines,” a song they expressed meant a whole lot to them, and cracked a joke that Chicago couldn’t be quieter than Cleveland in singing the chorus. Another nod to Chicago’s support for the band came in their reminder to fans that their name comes from a Wilco song, and the two gave a shout out to Jeff Tweedy and the special place the band and city has in their hearts. The night continued on, and the crowd screamed along to more songs including “Better Than I Used To” and “In the Ground,” both off of their 2019 self-titled album. It seems fair to say that neither the band nor the crowd wanted the night to end. With a rowdy and extended encore, the night unfortunately came to a close. Illiterate Light exited the stage for a final time in an uproar of applause, and fans flocked to Jeff and Jake as they made their way into the pit to talk with their fans.
While Illiterate Light’s show couldn’t last forever, here’s to hoping they’ll come back for more!
You can check out Illiterate Light’s music here.