Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Worden brought many of her original pieces to an even more pronounced enchantment. Lingering somewhere between the world of fairy tales and unsung heroes, her velvety vocals poured over us just as delightfully as the rain outside kept coming down." />

Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Friday, March 29

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Transmission
« Lollapalooza in Tattoos "Ghetto Dreams" Video Debuts »

Concert Tue Aug 09 2011

My Brightest Diamond@Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park 8/08/11

Gapers MBD 1.jpg

It seems like the cards were stacked up against Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond. Chicagoans who have friends in London were certainly worried and, making violence even closer to home, a man was killed just a couple of hours before My Brightest Diamond was set to play in the loop vicinity. In addition, concert goers in Chicago may have already been exhausted from a three day straight Lollapalooza, which turned into a giant mud pit at the end with storms wracking the city. Monday saw it's share of storms as well, keeping people off of the park's lawn and into the seats.

Watch a youtube video of her performance done by my friend Sei Jin Lee here.

Gapers MBD 3.jpg

But even though it was a smaller gathering than it may have been if the concert was held a week later, fans were relieved that they had made the effort to come when they saw and heard Shara Worden, who emerged wearing a gorgeous shimmering dress with black and silver diamonds and a gorgeous fuzzy black cape that resembled wings from some angles. Playing with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Worden brought many of her original pieces to an even more pronounced enchantment. Lingering somewhere between the world of fairy tales and unsung heroes, her velvety vocals poured over us just as delightfully as the rain outside kept coming down.

Gapers MBD 4.jpg

Songs that were transformed last night hailed primarily from Worden's 2008 album A Thousand Shark's Teeth with a couple of new songs as well for an upcoming release. "From the Top of the World" and "I Have Never Loved Someone" were clear highlights of the set overall. Worden herself didn't let the rain get her down. She was thankful for the audience present who had braved the storm and danced around the stage light heartedly. She told stories about Laurie Anderson inspiring her, telling her sometimes it takes a lifetime to learn how to love. She brought forth a huge sense of gratefulness for the orchestra and happiness that the moment had come where she could perform with them. Worden herself is a multi-instrumentalist and played guitar, harp, and ukelele at different points of the set. She succeeded in putting the audience under her spell and just for a moment, we felt a little safer from the storm and the rest of the world.

Gapers MBD 14.jpg

Gapers MBD 213.jpg

Gapers My Brightest Diamond 3.jpg

Gapers MBD2.jpg

 
GB store

Katie / August 9, 2011 10:45 PM

Hey, great review. I went to the show and loved it. One thing I noticed though- you mentioned that "Songs that were transformed last night hailed primarily from Worden's 2008 album A Thousand Shark's Teeth with "From the Top of the World" and "I Have Never Loved Someone" being highlights." As far as I know, the song "I Have Never Loved Someone " is not from A Thousand Shark's Teeth, but is due to come out on her new album in September.

Kirstie / August 15, 2011 3:58 PM

Yes, I see how that statement may have been misleading read a certain way-I apologize. To make clearer, most of the songs in the setlist were from that album. Separate statement that "I Have Never Loved Someone" was a song highlight of the set overall. Thanks for clarifying.

GB store

Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

Our Final Transmission Days

By The Gapers Block Transmission Staff

Transmission staffers share their most cherished memories and moments while writing for Gapers Block.

Read this feature »

Blogroll

  Chicago Music Media

Alarm Magazine
BackStage
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Boxx Magazine
Brooklyn Vegan Chicago
Can You See The Sunset From The Southside
Chicago Reader Music
Chicagoist Arts & Events
ChicagoMusic.org
Chicago Music Guide
Chicago Singles Club
CHIRP
Country Music Chicago
Cream Team
Dark Jive
Daytrotter
The Deli Chicago
Jim DeRogatis
Do312
Fake Shore Drive
Gowhere Hip Hop
Gridface
The Hood Internet
Innerview
Jaded in Chicago
Largehearted Boy
Little White Earbuds
Live Fix Blog
Live Music Blog
Loud Loop Press
Oh My Rockness
Pop 'stache
Pitchfork
Pop Matters
Resident Advisor
Songs:Illinois
Sound Opinions
Sun-Times Music Blog
Theft Liable to Prosecution
Tribune Music
UR Chicago
Victim Of Time
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Windy City Rock

  Venues:

Abbey Pub
Andy's Jazz Club
Aragon Ballroom
Auditorium Theatre
Beat Kitchen
B.L.U.E.S
Bottom Lounge
Buddy Guy's Legends
The Burlington
California Clipper
Concord Music Hall
Congress Theater
Constellation
Cubby Bear
Double Door
Elbo Room
Empty Bottle
FitzGerald's
Green Mill
The Hideout
Honky Tonk BBQ
House of Blues
Kingston Mines
Lincoln Hall
Logan Square Auditorium
Martyrs'
Mayne Stage
Metro
The Mutiny
Old Town School of Folk Music
Park West
The Promontory
Red Line Tap
Reggie's Rock Club & Music Joint
The Riviera
Rosa's
Schubas
Thalia Hall
The Shrine
Smartbar
Subterranean
Symphony Center
Tonic Room
Township
Uncommon Ground
The Vic
The Whistler

  Labels, Promoters
  & Shops:

Alligator Records
Atavistic
Beverly Records
Bloodshot Records
Dave's Records
Delmark Records
Drag City
Dusty Groove
Flameshovel Records
Groove Distribution
He Who Corrupts
Hozac
Jam Productions
Jazz Record Mart
Kranky Records
Laurie's Planet of Sound
Minty Fresh
Numero Group
mP Shows
Permanent Records
Reckless Records
Smog Veil Records
Southport & Northport Records
Thick Records
Thrill Jockey Records Touch & Go/Quarterstick Records
Victory Records

GB store

Events

Featured Series














 

Transmission on Flickr

Join the Transmission Flickr Pool.


About Transmission

Transmission is the music section of Gapers Block. It aims to highlight Chicago music in its many varied forms, as well as cover touring acts performing in the city. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.

Editor: Sarah Brooks, sarah@gapersblock.com
Transmission staff inbox: transmission@gapersblock.com

Archives

 

Transmission Flickr Pool
 Subscribe in a reader.

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15