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Bands of 2010: The Crown & Two Chairmen

Words by Ice Cream Man

Photos by

Pitchfork Festival in Chicago has been one of my favorites since the first time we went in 2006. A lot of it has to do with the actual festival but, for the last three years, my favorite after parties have all been during Pitchfork. Three years ago is was a flooded basement party with No Age and Abe Vigoda. Last year was Bitchpork with Times New Viking and this year Bitchpork moved to a new venue and we caught White Mystery and got turned onto a new band, The Crown and Two Chairmen. Apparently they were a late addition to the lineup. The top floor was where most of the bands played so they teamed up with The Slowest Runner in the World on the second floor and alternated songs with them for an hour or two.

There are times when I get so excited for something that by the time the event actually starts my expectations are so high there’s no way to exceed them. This has happened with Radiohead the last few times I saw them; great shows, just not face-melting great like the first few times I saw them. Coming off of the TNV Bitchpork party the year before where we danced our asses off and sustained numerous injuries, I had my hopes set really high for this year. As we climbed the stairs to the second floor we could hear a band playing and we started to get giddy. We rolled in to find The Crown and Two Chairmen setup playing the most perfect post rock soundtrack the night. I cracked a Port Brewing Anniversary Ale I had picked up at Binny’s and I couldn’t erase the smile on my face.

I don’t really understand what “post rock” is all about but it’s often used in reference to bands I dig like Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky and Envy. The songs are often instrumental and they build over time till the sound overtakes you and all you can do is stand there nodding your head.  Hmm… yeah.. that sounds about right and makes me think back to the early days of seeing the above bands around LA and at Coachella. It’s kind of like that “soundtrack to life” thing but that sounds so dorky. Needless to say, there could not have been a more perfect band for us to stumble in on at Bitchpork and I’ve been telling everyone how great they were. You should check them out either on their myspace page  or you can download their new album on bandcamp for a few bucks.  If you can’t see them live around Chicago you should rock them while biking around empty streets at night.

3 Comments

Laura October 28, 2010 at 2:24 pm

Yes so glad that you posted this! The Crown and Two Chairmen are exactly as described in this post! So glad they are getting the listen they deserve. This was an epic show to say the least. It was definitely one of the most memorable shows I have seen of the genre aka “post-rock”. Their album is fantastic as well, be sure to support them and buy their album!

Ice Cream Man October 29, 2010 at 8:52 am

It was definitely one of my favorite concert experiences of 2010. Just snagged The Slowest Runner’s album too, been diggin on that

Coklan October 29, 2010 at 9:52 am

The Crown and Two Chairmen are a revelation! I have been going to shows for over two decades and listening to music since birth. (maybe even before, my dad cranked the Brubeck) As soon as I had a license to drive I’d go down to the Cabaret Metro to hear who ever was playing Friday and Saturday since the 80’s, it did not matter. I’ve seen everything from ABC to Warren Zevon, The Smashing Pumpkins numerous times, The Cure, Bowie with NIN and every Lollapalooza (including Explosions In The Sky). Never before have I heard such a band as The Crown and Two Chairmen. There is no lead singer, there doesn’t need to be. The music is not a jam, every note is deliberate and it tells the story. These guys blow me away at Bitch Pork! There album: “An Age of Inquiry” in a just world would win the Grammy for best new artist this year, but we don’t live there. Enjoy this band while they are young and vital and watch in amazement with me as they reveal their body of work.

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