Connect with us

News

Space Echo Fest takes over Chicago with Failure and Baroness leading the night

Published

3 months ago

on

The inaugural Space Echo Fest touched down at Radius Chicago this past weekend for a stacked roster of psychedelic rock and cosmic jams, headlined by none other than alt-rock royalty Failure.

Failure’s rebirth in 2014 after 17 years of hiatus was like a gift from the cosmos to long-time fans (the band has always inspired a rabidly-devoted fanbase), so it was only fitting that the California trio deliver a career-spanning setlist that touched on six of seven records in their tightly-focused discography.

Vocalist/instrumentalist/producer extraordinaire Ken Andrews, along with drummer Kellii Scott (surely the most underrated drummer in rock music), and multi- instrumentalist Greg Edwards write songs that not only touch on universally human issues though a poetic filter, but also stand as mini-monuments to songwriting in general, from the flawless production to the often unexpected arrangements and guitars that sound like they really are being beamed in from another planet at times.

While the band has made a conscious move away from the spacier themes of records like 2018’s In the Future Your Body Will Be the Furthest Thing From Your Mind and 1996’s critically lauded masterpiece Fantastic Planet, new material like “A Way Down” and opener “The Air’s On Fire” (two of only three songs played from brand-new album Location Lost) still carry that emotional gravitas, and Andrews’ vocals are both powerful and contemplative, turning each moment of a Failure live show into its own little time capsule.

The monster hook of “Stuck On You” and crowd favorite “The Nurse Who Loved Me,” along with deeper cuts like the earworm “Solar Eyes” and “Frogs,” helped contribute to a perfectly balanced setlist—little surprise from a band that wears perfection on its collective sleeve.

Savannah quartet Baroness also delivered an energetic set that blended rock with delicate harmonies and, at times, total bombast, and sets from And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and Torche delivered in spades earlier in the evening. Here’s hoping Space Echo becomes a regular fixture in Chicago’s rich live music scene in the coming years.

Baroness :

A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, captured from a low angle. The performer is in a dynamic pose, with their head tilted back and eyes closed, showcasing a moment of artistic expression.
Close-up of a male singer with a beard passionately performing into a microphone on stage.
A drummer passionately playing on stage, wearing a cap and a 'Reanimator' t-shirt, with a focused expression, set against a dynamic background.
A bearded male musician passionately singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a tank top with 'Lifeless Dark' printed on it.
A singer passionately performing on stage while playing an electric guitar, with dramatic stage lighting in the background.
A musician playing a black bass guitar on stage, captured in black and white.
A male musician passionately singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar on stage, surrounded by dramatic lighting.
A guitarist performing on stage, passionately playing an electric guitar and wearing a sleeveless knit top, with a band backdrop in the background.

Failure :

A musician on stage pointing with one hand while playing a distinctive V-shaped electric guitar, surrounded by dramatic lighting.
A drummer performing on stage with dramatic lighting and large screens in the background displaying silhouettes.
A musician playing a bass guitar on stage, appearing focused and immersed in the performance, with soft stage lighting in the background.
A drummer performing on stage, surrounded by drums and cymbals, with colorful stage lighting in the background.
A musician playing a bass guitar on stage, dressed in black, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, with a focused expression, in a black and white setting.
A drummer playing on stage, surrounded by cymbals and a large drum set, with lights and visual effects in the background.
A musician playing a bass guitar on stage with dynamic lighting and a colorful background.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing glasses and a black shirt, with a blurred backdrop of lights.
A drummer performing on stage with a black and white backdrop featuring lights and visuals.
A musician playing a white bass guitar on stage with dramatic lighting, focused and immersed in the performance.

Author

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Breaking Scene Media

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading