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When rock bands play free concerts in Millennium Park, generally a bunch of old people and tourists will wander in and populate a good number of the seats near the front. Though unfamiliar with the band playing, they are excited to relax looking at Frank Gehry's beautiful design, their dogs barking after a full day of meandering at Navy Pier and the Harley Davidson store. After sitting uncomfortably for two songs, they shuffle out.

Last night, however, as The Feelies played their first show in Chicago in eighteen years, the tourists were bobbing their heads, asking their young neighbors, "What's the name of this group? The Feel-whats?" My point isn't that the reunited band now only appeals to geriatrics. It's that they appealed to everyone.

I expected to enjoy myself; I did not expect to be blown away. I expected the crowd to enjoy it; I did not expect them to go nuts. The Feelies are of course a revered band, but I don't think there's that broad of a popular awareness of them, comparatively. They only put out four albums, none of which sold well, and probably it's only their debut Crazy Rhythms that the majority of people are familiar with. Unlike the similarly reunited Pixies, they haven't had a Nirvana or, dare I say it, a Fight Club to really elevate their status among the masses. So how can you account for the response last night? My best answer: they just fucking tore it up.

They were the coolest looking old dudes and chick ever. They're the kind of band you look at and think, "I wish those were my parents." Lead singer/guitarist Glenn Mercer maintained a deadpan cool as he rattled off fiery lines on his Telecaster, but from the way he came to downstage and postured in front of the crowd, you could tell he was loving it. Bassist Brenda Sauter seemed genuinely appreciative as she thanked us for waiting twenty years. And it's amazing how much a traditional four-chord lead gtr-rhythm gtr-bass arrangement can be enhanced by an auxiliary percussionist.

The other thing about Millennium Park shows is that the audience generally sits in their seat or on the lawn quietly appreciating the music. There was a palpable tension as this show; I think everyone knew that sitting down wasn't right, but we were powerless to do anything about it. Then, during set-closer "Crazy Rhythms," a lone kid went up to the front of the stage and started spazzing out. A security guard slowly walked toward him to ask him to sit down, but the kid danced away as the guard approached, before suddenly turning and bolting. He apparently did a lap around the seats, and reemerged at the front from the opposite side, to applause from the audience. Then, spontaneously, the whole crowd got up out of their seats and rushed the front of the stage, dancing. It was glorious. They demanded two encores, and got them, including covers of R.E.M.'s "Carnival of Sorts," The Velvet Underground's "What Goes On" (the second this month I've seen!) and the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black."

As they were leaving the stage, drummer Stan Demeski came down to the front and shook the hand of the spazzy dancing kid who started it all. A+, spazzy dancing kid.

Update: Looks like I'm not the only one...

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The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms

[photos by robert loerzel]

Tags: millennium park, the feelies

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