The Dandy Warhols
Metro
Chicago, Illinois
August 9th, 2023
As their first performance back in Chicago since a seemingly lifetime ago pre-pandemic era, The Dandy Warhols returned to Metro in full force this past Wednesday evening – Alive with the aura of “Keep Portland Weird,” their show provided countercultural relief to the All-American buzz of Bruce Springsteen’s concert just down the street at Wrigley Field.
The Pacific Northwestern four piece took the stage to a crowd eager for the songs they love spanning the last 30 years with an unmatched performative flair, and The Dandies delivered. Opening up with Be-In off their 1997 sophomore album “The Dandy Warhols Come Down” set the tone for a list of songs encompassing the vastness of a three decade and counting career. Elated in response to the performance kicking off, voices from the across the crowd yelled excitedly, “welcome back!” in rounds as the first song faded into the next.
The set moved along traveling the audience through 29 years of activity as a band, including some of their most recognizable tracks – We Used to Be Friends, STYGGO, Bohemian Like You to name a few. Elevating the drama of their psych-rock-meets-shoegaze vibe was an enthralling light show, intentionally curated strobe flashes, and a fan facing keyboardist Zia McCabe giving her flowy, long hair a life of its own.
The band held nothing back with their emphatic performance, pleasing a packed room of fans only hoping much less time will be between them and the next stop The Dandy Warhols make in Chicago.
