Chicago’s As Tall as Lions fans helped kick off the band’s North American tour promoting their most recent album, You Can’t Take It With You, Tuesday night at The Bottom Lounge in the West Loop. Headlining a tour for the first time, ATAL has their gaze fixed on the future, far past what guitarist Saen Fitzgerald calls their “dark days” when referring to the time period of making You Can’t Take It With You. Three Producers, questioned self-confidence and a side step away from implosion, the “original four” -Dan Nigro (lead vocals, guitar), Saen Fitzgerald (guitar), Julio Tavarez (base), and Cliff Sarcona (drums)- managed to produce one of their most impressive LPs to date.
Rhythmically fervent tempos and guiding melodic tones solidify this indie jazz-fused band as top seed in the live show experience. Like twins separated at birth, the band members appear to read each other’s mind on stage knowing one another’s next musical move before it is made. This musical spontaneity on stage is a unique quality only found in their live set. Drummer Cliff Sarcona explains, “We live in the moment when we’re on stage. We’ve gotten to the point as musicians and as a band where we can read each other and play off one another with whatever we’re feeling at the moment.”
Fans are transfixed on the energy and passion each member of the band exudes on stage. Colored lights shine through the smoke filled stage as lead singer Dan Nigro belts out falsetto notes amplifying the band’s instrumentals. The four have been playing together since high school. “We’ve definitely matured,” Sarcona said, “bringing in more complex instrumentation and incorporating horns into our tracks.”
As Tall as Lions was on their first stop of a 23-city tour before heading to Minneapolis the next day and on to Kansas City Friday. When asked about what they look forward to the most this tour, Saracon responded, “I think I’m most excited for Coachella. It’ll be one of the biggest shows we’ve played…and we’re honored we get to play there,” and Fizgerald added “Mainly I’m excited to headline a tour…I think headlining is a great next step for us, and the right one. “
*Photo Credit Shawn Brickbill
