Felipe M
We love Streetlight Manifesto around these parts. So when we found out that they would be coming to Durty Nellie's in Palatine, Pathological Hate was all too eager to see them live again.
February 15, 2011: Durty Nellie's, Palatine, IL-- This was the first time I've ever been to Nellie's, much less for a show at this venue. It is definitely an impressive establishment as there's a bar and grill walled off from the stage area. Overseeing both sections of this facility is a second floor that provides a good view of the action below--unfortunately the good view is only supplied for a few people as views gets pretty obstructed rather quickly as people try to muscle their way into the best view possible without spilling theirs or anybody else's drink. Really the only perk to staying on the 2nd floor is that it plays as the designated drinking area as alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the mosh pit area. Yeah, I couldn't believe it either!
Nevertheless, the best feature of Nellie's is that it has two impressively sized telescreens which display the show for those people who don't want to get too close to the action. It is pretty unique for a small venue like Nellie's to have such a feature as it adds to the show's experience.
The second floor is where we watched Terrible Things' full setlist. Terrible Things is a group compiled from ex-members of Coheed and Cambria and Hot Rod Circuit. However, the reason why you would know this band is because it's fronted by ex-Taking Back Sunday member, Fred Mascherino. Admittedly, I recognized Mascherino, but just wasn't sure where I have seen him before. Weeks after the show is when I realized who he was. Nevertheless, the band's sound seemed to be "out-dated" and the energy was just lacking, as the songs were very uninteresting. However, there was a small fan base that was digging the set so all was not totally lost.
If Terrible Things was a necessary evil to endure that night, then Streetlight Manifesto was ready to send us to hell. Just like at the show at The Metro in July (of 2010), the mosh pit area was hot! We're in the middle of winter, but the mosh pit was scorching and humid like a tropical jungle. The crowd was simply amazing as they knew almost every word to every song and never stopped moving. No band can constantly keep the crowd moving like Streetlight Manifesto. I myself had to take a long water break midway through the show as the heat was unforgiving.
As far as the band goes, they are simply marvelous. The band's setlist was similar to the one in July, 2010, with a few additions here and there, most noticeably their cover of NOFX's "Linoleum" and a personal favorite of mine, "Failing, Flailing". Just like the show in July, they synthesized "Point/Counterpoint" with "Keasbey Nights"--that never gets old! They finished their set with what's quickly becoming my favorite song all time from the band, "Somewhere in the Between." The encore featured "Linoleum" and just like in July, ended with "The Big Sleep."
It was a cold, drizzly, winter's day in the Chicagoland area, and it was about two weeks after the biggest snowstorm in Chicago, but the hottest place to be in mid-February of 2011 was at Durty Nellie's as Streetlight Manifesto put out another bombastic show for a terrific crowd.
Make sure to check out last year's 1st Quarter Concert Wrap-Up.
Streetlight Manifesto has also recorded their version of Bad Religion's "Skyscraper." Be sure to check out our countdown of the 50 GREATEST BAD RELIGION SONGS EVER.
Find out what Devon was also doing during the month of February as he covered the 2011 Chicago Auto Show.
