Illinois is getting pretty comfortable in Boston. Last Thursday at Great Scott marked the band's fifth Boston show in as many months, with one more to come in April. Illinois took the stage after Magic Magic, and proceeded to destroy.
“She’s So Blonde” built with gnarled optimism, spitting a tale of hysterical rejection over crashing bass notes and psychotic backing harmonies; it was more an exorcism than a performance. And “Nosebleed,” even when played on a guitar due to frontman Chris Arch’s busted banjo, was a broken dance-floor epic, scattered with fragmented hooks and bizarre, video game keyboard blips. The band members took their cues as much from the Rolling Stones (like the pretty, country arpeggios on “Where’s My Woman”) as the White Stripes (like Arch’s high-ranged, bluesy vocal delivery on “Nosebleed”). We’re hoping to see more people at the next show. These dudes have rocked Boston consistently for the past six months and deserve a Boston send-off come April.
Openers Magic Magic began with a tragically detuned jam and a flustered apology from frontman John Murphy. “Sorry for the bullshit guys, um….” And even though he kept apologizing throughout the set, there was no need. Murphy’s melodies share a marked poignancy with Grizzly Bear’s, dripping tendress over waves of fuzz and reverb. Several times the band returned to single-note freak outs, amping the fuzz and letting their guitars squeal like the Jesus and Mary Chain, only to drop them just as fast and return to their dream-pop explorations. While in dream-pop mode, their harmonies were like a boat at sea navigating tumultuous waters with Murphy’s lead as a beacon. During their freak outs, the dual-drummer attack was punishing, reinforcing the guitar work and creating a visceral earthquake. As well as the band played, they seemed too self-aware, almost apprehensive about playing their songs, evidenced while Murphy turned his back to the audience during his more intricate leads, and the rest of the band stayed put, despite near-excessive amounts of rocking.
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