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Concert Wed Jan 21 2015
Sofar Sounds Brings Bands into Music Lovers' Living Rooms
Matthew Santos performs at Sofar Sounds: Chicago. Photo: Jim Vondruska
As the last light of the evening streams through the windows of a Wicker Park loft, uneven rows of people sit cross-legged in reverent silence.
Bottles of beer or wine sit by many of them. But there's no talking, no clanking glasses. Just music.
The source of these songs stands at the head of the crowd: a standing bass, a guitar, unplugged. A singer croons out into the room.
This is Sofar Sounds, a global phenomenon that's taking music out of traditional venues and into living rooms, stores, and random spaces around the world.
Founded by Chicagoan Rafe Offer in London back in 2009, the volunteer-run movement organizes intimate performances for audiences of music lovers.
Eric Muhlberger brought Sofar back to Chicago two years ago after having a "religious experience" at one of the shows in an industrial area of Brooklyn.
"It's unadulterated -- there's no amps, there's no one talking, so it's like the purest form of music," he said.
Brother George performs at Sofar Sounds: Chicago. Photo: Jim Vondruska
They don't sell any alcohol at the free shows, which end early in the evening. It's a smart strategy for staying on the good side of neighbors and authorities alike.
For the music lovers the shows are always a surprise. Sofar doesn't publicly announce who will be performing or even where it will be.
Anyone who's interested can RSVP online through an application that includes a short essay. Over 400 signed up for the two-year anniversary show, Muhlberger said, and they tried to choose an audience that's a diverse mixture of die-hards and newcomers.
For the bands, it's a chance to play for an audience who's there for the music, not to socialize. The featured acts go beyond the singer-songwriters you might expect to include funk bands, rock acts, and rappers.
"Artists are used to noisy clubs -- so it's a big draw to say, 'we're going to give you an audience with open ears,'" Muhlberger said.
Learn more about Sofar Sounds: Chicago on their website.
Antony & The Tramps perform at a Sofar Sounds show in Chicago
Matt Brooks / January 21, 2015 1:19 PM
This is so cool! I'm going to try and get this to come to Indianapolis.