Concert Wed Jul 08 2009

No Illusions with Mannequin Men

The record release show concept may have lost a little luster over the last few years of release dates not meaning anything to the typical consumer, but that's not to say they can't still be exciting and meaningful. If future behavior is best indicated by past behavior, Chicago's Mannequin Men have it in them to make Friday's Lose Your Illusion, Too release show at Metro a spectacle. The 4-piece derives its sound from early punk and Midwestern garage rock. Comparisons to Richard Hell and the Stooges are rampant throughout their music. And like any good punk band, they are a force to be reckoned with while on a stage. (Regular touring with Black Lips, another band whose true potential is realized in front of a crowd, has undoubtedly contributed to their live reputation.) They're brash, abrasive and a hell of a lot of fun to watch.

Also on the bill are their Puerto Rican equals - Davila 666. (¡Wepa!) With a self-titled record on In the Red last year, this septet established themselves as gritty punks who take far more influence from their American counterparts than their rock en Español brethren. Like Friday's headliners, Davila 666's also taken inspiration from tour companions in King Khan & the Shrines by incorporating costumes and props into their sets. (They'll also be playing a free show at the Empty Bottle in September.)

Chicago's Stranger Waves and Huntsville, Alabama's Thomas Function also play. The first 150 people at Metro get wristbands for a balcony after-party. Until noon Thursday, tickets are $5 on eTix. After then they're $10/$12 at the door. The show is 18+ and begins at 9PM.

— James Ziegenfus / Comments (0)