Party of the Year: The Red Haired Edition

Fuck Lollapalooza. I'm not sayin it ain't great. But it still isn't a pureblood Chicago experience- What transpired at Debonair last Tuesday, however, was the gasoline flavored, PBR soaked madness that screamed Chicago with blood coming out of its eardrums and nostrils. Imagine Optimus Prime having sex with Anita Ekberg circa 1961 and you you might have a grasp of the awesomeness that unfolded. Scott Lucas (Who I have shamefully overlooked as one of the better vocalists in Chicago for the last decade) opened up with a scorching cover set including Daft Punk's "Da Funk", Echo and The Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon", Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust", a much more energetic version of King of Leon's "Sex on Fire" and the biggest surprise- Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You." Not to mention a few savory originals and thrashtastic tasty treats. By this time, the crowd was in a fervor with a shitton of new faces who came out to see this rock and roll circus, regardless of their familiarity with the man of the hour, Red Hair Matt. No matter though because Kill Hannah's Greg Corner and Jonny Radtke joined forces with Matt Skiba and Derek Grant from Alkaline Trio opened with Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself" feeding into Fugazi's "Waiting Room" and eventually brought up special guests Larry Damore (naked raygun, Pegboy), Red Hair Matt and Scott Lucas to join in on "Reach for My Revolver", The Misfits' "Skulls" and The Jim Carrol Band punk ballad "People Who Died."
When Larry mentioned he was gonna sing a Moby tune, we actually guffawed thinking he wasn't serious. But if any emotional bruises I have from naked raygun shows in the nineties will attest, never doubt Mr. Damore's serious intentions again. Yet I have been schooled by Joey Carsello of the Metro that "Reach for my Revolver" is indeed by Mission of Burma and Larry is just fucking with all of us. Who says you don't get funnier with age? By the end of the short set, with Debonair as crowded as can be upstairs, Dan Adriano materializes and plucks the bass from Greg to close out the night as Alkaline Trio, the best gift ever to both Red Hair Matt and the frothy mouthed crowd. It was a reminder that Chicago is still loud, gnarly and knows how to come together for the sake of a damn fine party. Even without mention of the afterparty (which plenty of bleary pictures are evidence of) it was by far our favorite jam of the summer so far. So hence, the Fuck Lollapalooza. Happy Birthday Murray. You're only 48 once.