Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

BENT NIGHTS George Ezra holds concert at UIC Pavilion
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
by Vern Hester
2015-01-27

This article shared 2715 times since Tue Jan 27, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Regardless of how her career evolves from here on out, Adele will go down in history for bringing back the power of singing as a pure art form. Forget neo-soul, the annual flood of talented new faces ( who have a tendency to trill to distraction ) or the fusion of genres, Adele has put the emphasis back on great songs and vocal interpretations. Hot on her satin heels we've already had out shooting star Sam Smith and now, in his wake, we have one George Ezra. The three of them have an awful lot in common, although what they bring to the table is entirely different.

Never mind that like Adele, Smith and Ezra are Brits who embrace purely American forms of music ( Adele and Smith are into hard-boiled soul while Ezra's alternative pop has a western/swing flavor ) or that their breakout CDs have all hit worldwide on a huge scale with little hype. Or, for that matter, that all three of them are still in their twenties but routinely get described as having voices and music that sounds "beyond their years."

It says something—though I don't know what—that these "youngsters" from another country are taking our genres and turning them into something seemingly new and fresh while snatching up truckloads of Oscars, Grammys and platinum platters in the process. The truth, of course, as that the three of them demand attention because they have taken popular music right back to its purpose; to bring pleasure.

Ezra makes acoustic guitar-driven pop designed to showcase his deep, resonant voice and elaborate lyrics, and to hear him is to be seduced by the beauty of the English language. Hearing him tumble, toy with, and gift wrap syllables on his hit "Budapest" is a hoot and he does it so smoothly that he comes across like a seasoned magician. That song and the damnably catchy "Blame It On Me" are deceptively easy on the ears, until you actually try to sing along. The lack of ornamental sonic fuss and that leisurely guitar-driven swing make Wanted on Voyage feel like ear candy, but a hard corker like "Cassy O" takes what sounds clever and turns it into something with a much stronger propulsion.

"Did You Hear the Rain?" is even better, and the recording sounds like a great lost spooky Buck Owens stomper wrapped in a sinister aura of doom. But with all of that going on, Ezra throws in a wild card; a habit of flipping his profoundly earthbound voice into a pristine falsetto without warning. The effect is like getting tickled at an unexpected time in an unexpected spot on your body.

Although Ezra looks like a pleasant, apple-cheeked, sweet young man, and he sings with an embraceable sincerity, his videos feature a subversive humor that actually adds to his music. The clip for "Blame It On Me" has him in pursuit of the Yellow Brick Road, while barely surviving a multitude of calamities that would have sent Dorothy and that mangy dog running for cover. The bouncy and altogether sunny "Listen to the Man" gets a scene-stealing assist from Sir Ian McKellen and literally turns the song on its head. Then there is the video for "Cassy O," which features screaming harpies, sex dolls, bedroom frolics, used condoms and an ongoing cat fight. The punchline of all of them is Ezra himself, blithely singing away with perfect enunciation and a straight face.

Wanted on Voyage is lots of fun to listen to ( and the videos are even more fun to watch ) and it feels like too much of a good thing: intelligent, polished, engaging, addictive alternative pop with a touch of subversion. The debut is such a delight that it was a shame that Ezra found himself in the unenviable position of being Smith's opener at the massive and hollow UIC Pavilion in front of an SRO crowd Jan. 23. The space was so massive that it gave Ezra a new challenge: His rich baritone and wordy songcraft and melodies were literally swallowed up in the abyss.

Although the capacity crowd was clearly on his side ( the fans at the front of the house kept screaming at the top of their lungs, "YOU ARE SO CUTE!!!!" ) much of what makes Wanted on Voyage such a delight ( the details of the lyrics, the articulate arrangements, the nuances of Ezra's voice, and even his facial expressions ) were muffled and dulled. What was sharp, crisp, and charming was telegraphed through the venue's sound system as unrefined and muddy. "Listen to the Man" and "Barcelona" didn't have a prayer of connecting, but "Cassy O" with its edge, and "Blame It On Me," with its driven melody and mind bending hook made up for that, though the effect was like getting hit in the chops with a sock stuffed with wet sand.

The biggest insult was that Ezra's set felt curtailed not only by the Pavilion but a 30-minute set limit. That set limit and space did not give him much of a chance to stretch out, create momentum or build a rapport with his audience, which is a bummer since George Ezra on stage projects a certain comfort and engagement that are not only warm, friendly and humorous, but makes you want to spend an entire evening with him. Hopefully, all of these quibbles will be corrected when he comes back for his third jaunt to Chicago ( the second being his Feb. 25 opening slot for Hozier ) for his headlining gig at the more intimate Metro on March 30.


This article shared 2715 times since Tue Jan 27, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

'Rumors' performers create alternative drag playground 2024-03-24
- At first glance, Dorian's Through The Record Shop (1939 W. North Ave.) looks like a brightly-lit shop with a handful of records on the wall, but there's a secret world behind those unassuming shelves. Visitors are ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman 2024-03-21
- Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...


Gay News

THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar' 2024-03-21
- Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...


Gay News

Lollapalooza announces lineup; SZA, Skrillex among headliners 2024-03-19
- Lollapalooza has released its line-up for the event that's taking place Aug. 1-4 at Grant Park. Headliners include SZA, Blink-182, Skrillex, The Killers, Hozier, Melanie Martinez and Stray Kids, among others. Some of the other acts ...


Gay News

Jamie Barton brings nuances of identity to her Lyric Opera 'Aida' performance 2024-03-18
- Chicago's Lyric Opera is currently featuring a production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida starring Michelle Bradley as Aida, Jamie Barton as Amneris and Russell Thomas as Radamès. The opera runs through April 7, 2024, with Francesca Zambello ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'P-Valley,' Wendy Williams, Luke Evans, 'Queer Eye,' 'Transition' 2024-03-15
- Lady Gaga came to the defense of Dylan Mulvaney after a post with the trans influencer/activist for International Women's Day received hateful responses, People Magazine noted. On Instagram, Gaga stated, "It's appalling to me that a ...


Gay News

House-music festival on Aug. 30-Sept. 1; icons, Idris Elba to be part of it 2024-03-13
- The ARC Music Festival—an event celebrating house music—will take place Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Chicago's Union Park, per WGN-TV. This will mark the fourth year that the festival will celebrate the genre at Union Park—less than ...


Gay News

COBRAH slithers into Chicago and brings Feminine Energy 2024-03-08
- COBRAH snaked her way into Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., for two nights March 7 and 8 for her Succubus Tour. This Swedish-born talent has a way with naughty words and ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Jinkx Monsoon, Xavier Dolan, 'Frida,' Lena Waithe, out singer 2024-03-08
- Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is headed back to the New York stage, joining off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey beginning April 2, according to Playbill. The casting makes Monsoon the first drag ...


Gay News

Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez is set to slay at The Big Gay Cabaret 2024-03-05
- Out and proud performer Jai Rodriguez is set to play at The Big Gay Cabaret this March for three days. Presented by RuPaul Drag Racer Ginger Minj, this monthly series highlights the wide world of cabaret ...


Gay News

THEATER 'R & J' puts a female, queer spin on Shakespeare 2024-03-05
- Romeo and Juliet is the theatrical gift that keeps on giving. It's been reworked for the masses numerous times, whether in direct adaptations or musicals such as West Side Story. Shakespeare's plotline points have even inspired ...


Gay News

THEATER When growth is paramount: Jim Corti helps fuel Aurora theater expansion 2024-03-01
- Out actor/director/choreographer Jim Corti made his Broadway debut in 1974, in the ensemble of Leonard Bernstein's musical Candide. Director Harold Prince's acclaimed Tony Award-winning revival is often cited as a ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Queer actors, icons duet, Hunter Schafer, Oscars, Elizabeth Taylor 2024-03-01
- Queer actor Kal Penn is set to star in Trust Me, I'm a Doctor—a film that chronicles the final days of actress/model Anna Nicole Smith, whose overdose death in 2007 at age 39 sparked a tabloid ...


Gay News

'Always Olivia' celebrates Olivia Newton-John at Raue Center 2024-02-26
- From a press release: Always Olivia, a tribute to one of the most celebrated and beloved pop culture icons of all time, the late Olivia Newton-John comes to Raue Center in Crystal Lake on Saturday, May ...


Gay News

Samuel Savoir-Faire Williams's violin stylings help COH mark Black History Month 2024-02-23
- As part of its celebration of Black History Month, Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., presented a solo jazz performance by violinist Samuel Savoir-Faire Williams on Feb. 21. The two-hour long performance presented a showcase ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.