After a busy Lollapalooza weekend and various after shows hosted by Thalia Hall, dream-pop pioneer Jack Tatum better known as Wild Nothing was the perfect calm after the storm at Thalia Hall this past Monday night. Tatum ventured to Chicago in support of his latest self-produced project, Hold for one of his first stops on tour. This is his first release in 5 years and the wait was totally worth it to say the least! His latest LP features abundant synths and lyrics that are as infectious and catchy as any other great modern pop record. I’ve seen ample amounts of artists nowadays attempt synths and it’s either hit or miss but Tatum hits the bullseye with Hold. Though the back of the room was rather vacant more than likely due to Lollapalooza fatigue; that did not stop Wild Nothing from putting on what was one of the best shows I have attended this year!
Just before their set, indie rock band Peel Dream Magazine warmed up the crowd with a very fitting and chill set that set the tone for the evening. As showtime drew closer for Wild Nothing the anticipation grew in the room for what turned out to be an especially intimate show with Wild Nothing. The overall setlist could not have been more perfect, pulling most of the best songs from his impressive catalog. They kicked off their set with “Summer Holiday,” a rather nostalgic track from their 2010 album Gemini (which is indeed a perfect front to back listen for me!) that got the devoted audience entranced with Tatum’s dreamy soundscapes.
Not only was their set immaculately put together but their accompanying projected visuals were absolutely unreal! The band performed probably all of my favorite tracks from Hold including “Suburban Solutions,” “Alex” and the lead single “Headlights On;” which is a brilliantly shimmery self-reflection on Tatum’s confidence that features Australian singer and songwriter Hatchie. Wild Nothing closed out their lovely set with their cinematic track “Paradise.” An excellent choice of a song to close out the evening. The live performance of this song always leaves me in awe; as it takes you through a journey of luscious drums and guitar riffs accompanied by a thought provoking chorus before diffusing into a soundscape of distorted bird noises and noisy ambient instrumentals that build up into an explosion of one last chorus.
Although they played to a rather compact crowd; it does not reflect the band's immense success within the indie music universe. Wild Nothing have made their mark to those that treasure the band's wonderful sound but I still think they are VASTLY underrated and deserve to be recognized beyond their current accomplishments. They are the type of band that can put out no bad music and each project is as unique as the last. Hold presents an evolution of sorts for Jack Tatum and I cannot wait for the next opportunity to catch him in Chicago!
All photos by Andrew Lagunas.