The fun doesn’t stop once Lollapalooza ends for the night—you have numerous aftershows you can choose from to continue the music. On Saturday, August 3rd, I was able to catch Two Door Cinema Club when they played the 1,100-capacity Metro in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago which was more like a pre-show than an aftershow since they weren’t playing the festival until Sunday, August 4th. Whether it be a proper show or a festival timeslot, if you are given the opportunity to see these Irish rockers, jump on it! These guys put on a show that makes you feel young and also like it’s summer, no matter the season you’re in.
Starting off the show were local young rockers Worry Club, following their festival debut. Their upbeat melodies paired with their charming stage presence helped rejuvenate the crowd of tired attendees after braving the sun and high heat all day. Watching these youngsters have the time of their life on stage made me jealous I didn’t catch their set at the festival.
Starting their set just after midnight, Two Door Cinema Club stunned in their intimate warmup to the next day’s festivities. Given more time than their festival slot, Two Door Cinema Club was able to pack their setlist with fan favorites, newer singles, and a handful of deep cuts.
Acknowledging that the venue was much smaller than the shows they typically play, bassist Kevin Baird comically had to say “if I could say something a little dicky for a moment, it’s refreshing to be playing in a smaller place and being able to see everyone.” Once he said this, I knew we were in for a treat.
Even though the stage was smaller, they ate up every inch they could. Watching guitarist Sam Halliday play is mesmerizing. You don’t know where the guitar ends and Sam starts; they become one with each other. It’s awe inspiring to see a musician play so passionately, pushing the limits of what their instrument can do and creating something great. In Sam’s case, his guitar playing transported the crowd to another world right with him.
Frontman Alex Trimble also worked the crowd, displaying his effortless technique of moving his vocals from nearly a falsetto straight down to nearly a baritone. His vocals bring the magic Sam and Kevin created to a peak, really moving all of those watching these wizards perform on stage.
It was great to hear them play Beacon deep cut “The World Is Watching,” which they’ve added back to their setlist for the first time this past Spring, having last played it live in 2017. Same thing goes for “Costume Party,” a bonus track from the Japanese release of their first album Tourist History, being added back to their setlist in 2023 for the first time since 2013. These tracks are less likely to be played at their shortened festival set, so seeing them live in such an intimate setting is special.
Two Door Cinema Club wrapped up their latest North American tour with their Lollapalooza appearance, but they are making their way across Europe through the end of August before returning to North America for another run from September through the beginning of October. If you get a chance to catch this band live, you won’t be disappointed.
WORRY CLUB
