Whether you’ve followed them since their formation in 1999 or are familiar with them thanks to features in pop-culture phenomenons The Fault in Our Stars and Divergent, one thing is for sure: M83 has no problem enchanting an audience.
Promoting their ninth album, Fantasy, earlier this month, the French band was welcomed with a sold out crowd of concert goers ready to escape reality for a night at The Riviera Theatre in Chicago. A sound undeniably unique, frontman Anthony Gonzalez is a known master at blurring genres, with the band’s style teetering between shoegaze/ dream pop/ post-rock/ and perhaps almost any other musical category imaginable.
Bringing Gonzalez’s multi-instrumentalist vision to life, the venue was illuminated with a spectacle of light, immersive fog, and admittedly the desire to simultaneously cry, smile, and applaud by both myself and the nearby patrons.
Despite telling myself I would leave before the encore to beat the crowd, I couldn’t help but stick around for their #1 hit “Midnight City,” and be completely enthralled by every note. If you’re not already a fan and looking for a new musical obsession, I recommend this be your gateway song.
With the band staying to thank the audience, throw out guitar picks, and frisbee a signed drum head across the venue, it was these moments of earnest gratitude and their awe-inspiring talent that affirmed they would remain in my “must-see when touring” list for years to come.
Now heading abroad to finish their tour, M83 will be back stateside offering another chance to set foot in their fantasy world come October at Austin City Limits Music Festival and select shows in California.
