TORO Y MOI THRILLS IN CHICAGO
BY ADI COHENThere’s nothing better than starting your weekend off strong with a concert, especially one that was as captivating as Toro y Moi’s sold out show at The Salt Shed in Chicago. I’ve been a pretty casual fan of his music since college, but after seeing him perform for the first time last night, I’ve been converted to die-hard status.
The show started off very unassuming, Toro and his band walked out onto the stage and just started playing music. In a way, it initially felt like you had just walked into a friend's basement band practice. Everyone and their instruments were huddled together at the center of the stage, and it felt very familiar and intimate.
But once you took notice of the thumping bass, flawless lighting, and his buttery smooth voice, it jolted you back to the reality that you were in a room of 3,500 people all there to enjoy the music. That was something that really stood out to me about this show. The stage design was very pared back. There were no visuals or extras, just the band and Toro having fun on stage coupled with expert lighting design that helped set the vibes.
When you put all of that together, it really felt like it was all about the music and enjoying that for what it is. The crowd definitely took notice of this too. Everyone was singing and dancing along the entire show, and frankly it was hard not to join in. The setlist was expertly curated taking concertgoers through the full spectrum of how his sound has evolved over time.
From the jazzy synth tones of his earlier work all the way through to the moody, angsty sound he debuted on his latest album Hole Erth, it was like a rollercoaster ride that ended in the best possible way. The final two songs of the show solidified this juxtaposition between old and new. Going from the introspective sound associated with his collaboration with Flume, The Difference, into the light and dancy Freelance left me wanting more. If you’re looking for a reason to dance, I highly recommend picking up tickets to a show in a city near you.
