Kublai Khan TX bring down the hammer on Chicago

Texas hardcore heat Kublai Khan brought a full crowd of Chicagoans ready to unleash classic hardcore frenetic energy onto each other via fists and flailing arms.

Supported by Sunami, Judiciary and Momentum, the April 12th show filled Chicago’s Metro to the brim so I was lucky to nab a balcony spot with a perfect view of the rabid show attendees. Although they’ve only released one self-titled LP (via Triple B, which they managed to do by themselves), San Jose band Sunami still had plenty of heavy beatdown anthems to throw in the faces that populated the Metro. What started in 2019 as a playful excuse to talk shit onstage, Sunami has grown into a legitimate hardcore contender, absolutely making the best of their opportunity as direct support for Kublai Khan. Vocalist Josef Alfonso runs the stage in a way I imagine a mob boss would – not too over the top but threatening enough to convey a potential to cut off your fingers if you don’t cooperate. Thankfully, all Alfonso asks the crowd for is their energy – and they happily respond in the pit “Sunami Style”. No fingers removed.

Kublai Khan hit the stage at the perfect time, the post-Sunami energy carrying the crowd into what we knew was going to be a show full of hits. That night was when it occured to me that vocalist Matt Honeycutt‘s general vibe matches his last name perfectly. He’s got a friendly neighbor aura about him, the one who will take care of you in your time of need (the “honey”). This part of the name was heard as he dedicated “The Truest Love” to all the single parents in the crowd with a heartfelt statement on the struggles they face to provide love and happiness to their children when the other parent isn’t around.  The “cutt” rises to the top through his biting (maybe CUTTing) lyrics heard in latest single “Low Tech”, what I interpret as a middle finger to the corporate and government giants who promised us safety and delivered us dust. The show was a full course meal, leaving nothing to be desired and the band agreed not to do the adult show n’ tell (an encore). Kublai Khan gave it to us straight, no chaser and I can’t wait to hear what comes next.