Words & Photos by Zlatko Todosijevic
If there is one thing I’ve learned as I’ve ripened with age, it’s that time goes by quicker and quicker as each year passes. I can still remember last year’s birthday festivities at aliveOne like it happened last week. And I remember being at Smart Bar for their New Year’s celebration with Orchard Lounge, Major Taylor, and Nate Manic like it was yesterday. My birthday is always a time of reflection for me, a good way to measure how my life is going since the last one transpired. But at the same time, it’s also a great opportunity to get all my friends together in the same room. It’s not as easy or simple as it used to be though (another lesson I’ve learned over time). So my birthday has taken on extra meaning for me the last few years and this year I was able to combine all the things I love: best friends, live music, and Chicago nightlife. I’m a lucky person and I’m very appreciative and aware of it. With Orchard Lounge bookending the evening and young electronic prodigy Nicolas Jaar playing in between their two sets, we were supplied with quite the soundtrack for the evening.
If there is one word that comes to mind when I think of Orchard Lounge, it’s consistency. Show after show that I see, they continue to leave me satisfied. I’ve never left dismayed or disappointed. Their versatility is a testament to the unique three-pronged attack of Ben Silver and Bethany and Spencer Lokken. They put that versatility on display as the group weaved through many styles and textures of sonic bliss. The first set had a darker, minimalist flavor to it and it sounded like they were preparing us for the eclectic sounds of Jaar. Smart Bar doesn’t normally fill in until after midnight on weekends but the dance floor was alive and well by 11:00 PM. The tempo was kept at steady pace as the group shifted sounds and layered their dance grooves for the first three hours. The drops they provided had some really great build-ups and were all quite distinct from each other. The set had a minimalist downtempo feel to it as the trio was warming things up. By the time they left the stage, Smart Bar was jam-packed and filled with a lot of sweaty young adults.
Nicolas Jaar arrived in Chicago with many people buzzing about the promising young electronic artist. At only 21 years old, his music has the patience and maturity you would expect from someone twice his age. He has been lauded by everyone from Pitchfork to Resident Advisor and his live band sets are generating equal buzz to his live sets. A Chilean-American currently attending Brown University, he is balancing the life of a full-time student and musician. His music was ironically simplistic and complex at the same time, layered with dark brooding sounds that still made you want to dance. His beats had quite an organic tone and he took everyone to a place they had never been to before. It was very original and highly intriguing. He had total control of the audience almost immediately and was able to maintain it throughout. Armed with a computer, some synthesizers, and a vintage microphone so he could perform his vocal duties from his albums, he sculpted a very impressive set. He left some speechless, scratching their heads trying to make sense of what they were hearing while the rest were just plain amped from the unique sounds that were dripping from the speakers. The bass lines he dropped had a simple care-free swagger that developed from the lush, thick layers of noise he crafted. It was electronic minimalism at its best with just the right amount of psychedelia thrown into the mix. He walked off the stage to an uproar and Orchard Lounge took us home for the evening. Their second set had a livelier house sound and they did a great job of keeping the energy level high at Smart Bar. People danced until the house lights came on and they yet again, they failed to disappoint. It was one of those evenings that reminded me, yet again, how lucky I really am. I got to spend it with my close friends, my wonderful friends in this Chicago music scene that help it thrive, and some fantastic artists. Happy Birthday to me indeed.
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