January Dreaming with Mother Soki at Schubas
Written by Ciara Rose Belfiore
A crowd gathered Saturday night at Schubas for the first weekend of TNK fest. The 4-week January music and comedy festival has not only been a way for Chicagoans to find refuge from the bitter cold but also get to witness a variety of local and national favorites. This year marks TNK’s 20th anniversary.
Local band Frances Softheart opened the show. Though much of their music is unreleased they were certainly a crowd favorite, with support from friends and family alike. They delivered guitar forward rock backed by leader singer Frances’ strong vocals. It was a pleasure to watch a young band that already has such a clearly developed style that I’m sure is only going to continue to grow. They’re certainly one to watch.
Meg Elsier is a Nashville based indie-rock artist. With a stripped back lineup, Elsier manages to deliver a high-power, grungy sound with just her, a bassist and a drummer. Many of the songs she performed were from her 2024 album, spittake, which dwells on love, change, and growing older. The songs are not only emotive and earnest but equally as fun and her performance is just as lively as her music. When she’s not singing or dancing, she’s chatting with the crowd between songs, explaining the connection between her beloved Subaru and her song “sportscar”. If you’re looking for songs to dance to while getting a little misty eyed, look no further.
Mother Soki, a Minneapolis based dream pop band closed out the show, in a haze of smoke and moody lighting. Lead singer Annie Tammearu’s ethereal vocals call to mind dream pop classics like Beach House and Cocteau Twins, with a slightly more rock n’ roll spin. Tammearu has perfected the ability to balance out moody melodies with soft vocals, in a way that references the greats while still being unique and exciting. This past year they released their latest EP Fantasy. Filled with ambient guitar, loop pedals, and reverb, Mother Soki’s music would appeal to fans of The Sundays and Mk.Gee alike. It feels like something that would play during an artsy coming of age film and the punchy distorted guitar hits just as hard live as it does on their recordings. Overall, it was the perfect escape from the dreary Chicago winter.