As time has it, every once and awhile the waves of life tend to pull you out to sea, drown you ever so slightly, and then allow you to sit on the beach to enjoy the view.
One of the best ways to sit back and observe where you are in life is to straight up get the fuck out of town. Chicago was chosen for various reasons, so flights were booked and arrangements were made.
Late on a Friday night, and after having to deal with Spirit airlines, we found ourselves in the heart of Chicago in the company of Pretty Mary. Pretty Mary, being a friend and sometimes Chicago contributor for us here at the DoD.
Since our weekend consisted of getting away and doing something out of the norm of electronic shows, our Saturday night plans consisted of an item very much outside of our usual flavor of entertainment; a rock pole dancing show put on by Viva La Muerte featuring Now I’m Nothing and Vicarious Tool with over 20 talented pole dancers from the Midwest area. (Complete list of dancers are found on the Event Page.)
First and foremost, we need to address that the two acts were not cover bands, but tribute bands. For discographies such as Maynard’s and Trent’s, a fan is going to be the absolute worst critic. Especially for anyone performing in a live setting for either band’s music. Not only is the music technical, but it also has to have “that sound.” It has to have that raw sound.
Vicarious Tool (Tool) – [Matthew]
The band’s members brought a new twist on familiar favorites with their own brand of flair. The lead singer, a woman, obviously brought a different take to Maynard’s signature sound, but it rang with such excellence, such vibrant guttural resonance that you couldn’t help but be drawn in. The other obvious switch up was clearly the lack of a lead guitarist, but in their place, an electric violinist. The band member clearly ran his instrument through board to give that same signature electric guitar sound, but as a classically trained cellist [Matthew], the visual change-up in hardware was both interesting, and appealing. As if the music itself wasn’t absolutely on point, on came the pole performers.
Granted, we’re not professional pole dancers, nor are we regulars at the type of establishments that would offer this as a form of entertainment; that being said, one thing was apparent almost immediately—that this took confidence, skill, and a whole lot of strength.
One of the major stand-outs from the Tool act had to be the performance to Ænema. Aside from being a favorite of their tunes, the performer literally made that stage her bitch. The amount of control and strength she exhibited were nothing less than jaw dropping and heart stopping.
Now I’m Nothing – Nine Inch Nails [David]
The anger. Personally, NIN has always made me feel good for feeling angry. Partly to get out the frustrations of life and dealing with whatever wave is crashing over you. The dancers delivered that visceral anger in true choreographed form. In particular, Molly Meru put on an excellent show to “The Perfect Drug.”
One of the cooler features of the night was that the proceeds from the raffle and merch sales benefited a nonprofit designed to assist injured performers, artists, and entertainers both physically and financially through the recovery process. You can learn more about them and their first upcoming fundraiser by checking out their info below
For more info on the show’s sponsor and about pole dancing and fitness in general, check out Vertical Fitness at their links below. The poles used in the show are the very same poles they bring to folks for their mobile pole fitness classes!
www.VerticalSportFitness.com
https://facebook.com/VerticalSportFitness/
Twitter – @VSportFitness
Instagram – @VerticalSportFitness
Full photo galleries from the night will be up soon, so be sure to bookmark us and check back often!
Chicago, we’re not done with you, not by a long shot. We know your history. We know what you are capable of. We’ll stop in again soon to do what we do.
See you soon.
Matthew is a well known and respected DJ and promoter based out of Houston, TX. Dunn has well over a decade behind the decks, played alongside some of the biggest names in dance music, and is a fixture in the EDM community both on local and international level.
