Explosions In the Sky goes on without a bang in Chicago

July 2, 2009, at the Congress Theatre

By Selena Fragassi
Published: July 5th, 2009 | 7:30pm

Two nights before the Fourth of July, there were to be Explosions In the Sky at Chicago’s Congress Theatre — but for the most part, the Texan instrumentalists’ show crashed and burned mid-air in a set that could be described as pretty, but not inspiring enough to elicit the ooh’s and ahh’s that often can be felt upon hearing their recordings.

Part of the problem was not the band’s fault but rather the shortcoming of the venue itself, an encompassing ballroom with tiers of upper deck seats that normally hosts rock shows. Its sub-par sound system and size quickly overwhelmed the quartet and diluted its sound by muting the nuances and craftsmanship that often makes Explosions In the Sky appealing in other environments, such as a smaller club space or the open-walled appearance at dusk during last year’s Lollapalooza festival.

Regardless of the show’s flaws, the reception was tremendous with a sea of people that provided an encouraging cheering section, recognizing each song within a few notes. It was a special night to say the least, one that marked the tenth anniversary of the band who on several occasions promoted the special memorabilia they had created just for the night’s event.

On the stage under a haze of smoke, blue and purple spotlights, and Texas flag décor, band members Mark Smith, Chris Hrasky, Munaf Rayani, and Michael James synchronized well together as they made great strides to meet every note and changing melody like clockwork — a huge feat considering the complexity of their arrangements. But still something was missing, an ingredient that was desperately needed to avoid blending the songs together in a mish-mosh of noise.

Gone was the precision of crisp guitar lines and intricate harmonies that normally make Explosions In the Sky hit you in the pit of your stomach, producing butterflies or melancholy depending on the exact point of the song’s emotional journey. At times, the band tried to steer gazers in the right direction as they thrashed their guitar axes or beat the drums in interruptions of mayhem that scalded the soft tonal ranges.

Each song tried to live up to its roller coaster moments, but it was hard to have fun on the ride knowing it was not moving at full speed. Perhaps it was just an off night for the band with an impressive ten-year history, and allthough fireworks were missing from this holiday show, there’s no doubt it’s the last time we’ll see the thrill of Explosions In the Sky.

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For more photos from this show visit Venus Zine’s Flickr page

Explosions In the Sky official site

Explosions In the Sky MySpace page