By Randal Hicks
Who says Ska is dead?
November 9th marked the return of Five Iron Frenzy to Chicago’s Bottom Lounge.
To warm up the crowd, an up-and-coming ska band from Southeastern Michigan took the stage! (And the floor?)
The Boy Detective with a full 3-piece brass section brought a raw young energy to the crowd. Literally. Their frontman – left the stage in the first song and sang/danced the night away in the middle of the crowd. He only re-emerged near the end of the set to encourage more circle-pit/dancing action. It was such a fun experience and truly a memorable set for such a fun group.
Five iron Frenzy took the stage after a short intermission. I’ve seen this band way more times than I can count, and while the last few times have been good shows, they didn’t hit like tonight’s did. Five Iron promised an “Old School” set, and they delivered. The night was filled with fond memories and singing along to music that defined my formative years. They played through all of their hits including “Old West”, “Blue Comb” “Where the 0 meets the 15” and “Combat Chuck.”
They also included two new songs which really hit home with the current political climate. “In through the out Door” talks about hypocrisy in religion as it relates to immigration in America. They followed this up with “So Far” off their 2013 album Engine of a Million Plots.
They closed out the epic set with the song they used to close every show with before the breakup, “Every New Day.” The song is such a powerful closer. Looking around the room, watching everyone sing along in unison, the emotions shared, the belting out of lyrics – It’s a truly unique experience, and one that I hope they continue for future shows.
Photo Gallery : Five Iron Frenzy – Bottomlounge (11.09.2024)
