Dilly Dally
The Promontory - Chicago - 10.21.15
Photos by: Siri, take a picture!
In Chicago most of the venues are on the North/Northwest side of the city. So when I heard that Dilly Dally was playing at The Promontory I was like 'I'm fucking going to that shit.....wait, where is The Promontory?'.
For those of you from Chicago, it's in Hyde Park. For those of you not from Chicago, it's on the South side of the city where the Obamas live. I didn't know what to expect, I just plugged it into google maps, jumped in the car, listened to the Mets score 4 runs on the Cubs in the first inning, swore at and hit my steering wheel multiple times, and then arrived.
I walked into the venue and had to laugh to myself: a large empty room donned with chandeliers, a modern/luxe bar, and votive candles all over the place. I wasn't sure if it was a Las Vegas night club or a concert venue....much less a concert venue hosting Dilly Dally, a kick-ass, Canadian grunge band with only 3 pairs of fresh underwear for a 3 month tour.
BUT holy balls in crushed velvet boxer briefs, this place was Hillary SWANK. Even the Men's bathroom smelled like smoked meats and leather bound books. I'm not sure if it was just over the kitchen of the restaurant below, or the masculating smell was coming from an air freshener. If so, I MUST find that air freshener and put it adjacent to my pooping toilet.
Even though The Promontory didn't match my expectations as a 'Dilly Dally venue' I loved it. It's a place I'd love to go see Calvin Harris at, if I liked Calvin Harris, and drink fancy Vodka I never heard of.
So, WELCOME TO THE USA Dilly Dally!
And I wish I could tell you that Chicago greeted Dilly Dally with a room full of devoted fans in black zip up hoodies, but the place was emp-fucking-ty. I think I counted 25 people there at that included the opening band, sound engineer, and over-staffed bar.
I hate when this happens to awesome bands, but it makes me appreciate them so much more, when despite the low turn out, they still fucking murder their set. And I half expected for this murdering not to happen....
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As packed as a Shanghai steam room.
Dilly Dally, The Promontory, Chicago, 10.21.15
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so Luxe.
Dilly Dally, The Promontory, Chicago, 10.21.15
Now, I'm on the record for giving Dilly Dally's album Sore a sloppy 10-star verbal fellating. BUT it makes my throat sore just listening. The vocals are so fucking gritty and growl'y. I thought that there was no way lead singer Katie Monks could replicate that live. I honestly thought that it took 3 years to record that album, just so that she could rest her voice for a couple of days after each verse.
NOPE.
Katie hit the vocals word for word. Note for note, Howl for Howl. Growl for Growl.
And the band also murdered. Sometimes I see 'harder' bands perform in venue spaces like these and the reverb just drowns out everything....like you're listening to the show with earmuffs over your ear plugged ears. Not Dilly Dally though. The sound was loud and crisp. It's really a shame that only a few people were able to experience the show.
I had to run as soon as the show ended even though I wanted to treat Katie to an Earl Grey Tea and a throat Vapor rubbin'. (I mean that in the least creepy way....I promise).
In conclusion. GO SEE DILLY DALLY, YOU FUCKFACES. I can't promise that it'll be in a venue as swanky as The Promontory, but the show will be great. Here are the tour dates; they'll hit a lot of the US, Canada, and The U.K.