On Friday, March 9th, we headed out to the Empty Bottle to see Chicago’s Panoramic & True warm up the stage for Milwaukee rockers Maritime.
Panoramic & True, who we mentioned last week, create powerful and orchestral indie-rock on their debut record. All too often, bands utilize sounds, styles, and instrumentation on their records that they can’t reproduce live, and somewhere along the line cynicism crept in on me. More often then not I find myself assuming the worst—a live show that doesn’t live up to the record.
The cynic in me called it a night when all eight members of Panoramic & True, including the four-piece string section, took the stage.
The set possessed an incredible energy that I’m sure can be attributed in part to eight talented musicians having a great time on a relatively small stage. Whoever was running sound for the Empty Bottle was on their game as well, because from where I was standing, the mix was perfect. It’s amazing what a difference crisp and clear vocals can make in a performance.
Panoramic & True played tracks from their self-titled debut record and put on a hell of a show.
By the time headliners Maritime took the stage, The Empty Bottle had definitely filled in. This was my first introduction to the band, but it was immediately apparent that I was in the minority. The crowd moved right up against the stage, unusual for the bar scene, and many people seemed to know the words to each song.
A song or two into their set, it wasn’t hard to see why Maritime has a following. The energy of frontman Davey Von Bohlen filled the room and compensated for the four less members that they brought to the stage.
Everything about Maritime’s performance brought me happily back to the pop-rock of the ‘90s.
Opening the show was indie/pop group The Minor Leagues from Cincinnati. The dance-infused pop accomplished what a lot of opening acts don’t by getting the crowd warmed up and hyped for the full night of amazing music ahead.
The Minor Leagues
Panoramic & True
Maritime
Photos by Kate Froemling
