A Tuesday night is not necessarily the night you think of for a party, but we in Chicago are ready to throw down whenever the opportunity presents itself. Metal and Pole came together for a kickass night on June 21, 2016. Viva la Muerte, the producer and mastermind behind Viva la Pole Show, knows exactly how to set the stage for a dirty good time.
LiveWire Lounge Chicago is a small, gritty venue perfect for an intimate show. Cheers to LiveWire for always being open to hosting unique and new live shows. Doors opened at 8:00 p.m. and you walk in to see the stage set with band equipment, the stage pole ready to go, and someone on a ladder removing hanging lights. The stunners of the Viva la Pole Show taught venue staff last time around that hanging lights are a no-go anywhere near the top of that pole.
The night was a glorious balance of rock, pole, and metal. The show kicked of with three killer performances from the Viva la Pole Show family. Elizabeth rocked the stage to “Time of Dying” and gorgeously split, hung, and wove on and around the pole. Mary Elizabeth (that’s me, that’s me!) brought AFI’s Totalimmortal to the stage as her (my) first performance with Viva. It was a flexy, rockin, slinky good time (#cherrypopped). Closing out the first set was the illustrious Anna May with Korn’s “Make Me Bad.” Her cat-like movement and meticulous control mixed with fierce eye contact was mesmerizing.
Enter band one: Hazer. Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, this band hit the stage with high energy and grooving guitar riffs. They describe themselves as a band that tries not to “over-complicate things” and their pure love of music shined on that stage. With dynamic drumming, quirky riffs bordering on dissonant, and an energetic front man, Hazer put on a rocking set.
Stage cleared, pole returns, and we’re ready to get back to the grind. Ixihz hit the stage with “Sweet Things” and wowed the audience with high energy tricks and in your face audience engagement. Jezzibel switched up the pace with a spectacular fire and grinder number heating up the stage and growing audience. The long, lean, and flexible Melody Kira rounded out the second set with The Distillers, big hair, floorWERK, and stunning lines on the pole.
Enter band two: Caducus. Coming to Chicago from Louisville, Kentucky, this group is best described as melodic alternative metal. The powerful and borderline ethereal vocals of Michala Bouska draws your attention to the stage and holds it hostage. This tour launched their newest album, Fallen (available July 8). They covered the spectrum of style — high energy metal, ballad, and their *only* cover “Radioactive.” Bouska’s stage presence filled the room and the band as a whole hit the stage hard and put on a hell of a show.
The final pole set began with another Viva la Pole Show virgin, Manda Ritz. “Come Out And Play” was on point — this woman is clearly a badass power poler with a fab stage presence. Second up was Flight Fitness Studio Owner, Michelle Heller. Dancing to “Dark Nights,” she brought the hair whipping, smooth spins, and clean lines that make a number pop. Closing out the show was original Viva la Pole Show performer and Founder of the Break a Leg Foundation, Ashley Ring. She strutted on stage to Marilyn Manson and with absolute calm and control flowed with smooth transitions and gorgeous tricks.
The performers each brought their unique dancing skills and the bands rocked it out for a spectacular crowd. Cheers to Viva la Muerte, the Viva la Pole Show family, Hazer, Caducus, and LiveWire Lounge for a rad night.
Next up for Viva la Pole Show:
A Pole Dance Tribute to DAVID BOWIE
July 9, 9:00 p.m., Chicago Star Bar
Mary Elizabeth is a dance citizen hailing from Chicago, IL. After growing up a classical ballerina, she fell in love with contemporary and pole dance and never looked back. New to the blogging scene, Mary can be found choreographing in a corner, adjusting her Instagram filter, or being irritated by non-dancing folks.
