Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards

@GHOSTFINDER.DMG : FRIEND OF A FRIEND - 7.18.24 | at the Book Club (Chicago)
Caught this band while working on another project the other week and while I wasn’t enthused at first by their recordings, they translated powerfully in a live setting. There’s something about seeing music live that sets everything into context and actually allows you to more intimately see the way they crafted the song that lets you closer to the thrum of the music. The soaring vocal tenacity of their singer captured me. The energetic and frantic strumming by their guitarist connected me to the beat. The drums heightened the experience by adding a floor to work off of. It’s few times I’m caught off guard by a band, and this band certainly did so. This sort of magical connection is why we attend, why we show up. Stages are portals to view something so personally curated, mirrors to artist’s minds and thought processes.
They have a new album (FACILITIES) out currently, and it does a good job conveying where they are now. Highly recommend a listen.