Kelsy Karter and The Heroine’s Beat Kitchen headlining set began with an acapella verse from their 2020 song “God Knows I’ve Tired.” It’s a subdued takeoff to what will be a raucous hour and change of glam rock bombast. Karter, the band’s Auckland, New-Zealand-born vocalist and songwriter, clearly understands the weight of the intimate moments between the operatic ballads and explosive guitar solos.
That’s all just a clinical way to say that Karter and Co. put on a damn good show.“They sound like Queen” is a phrase thrown around so much, and often so incorrectly, that it’s basically an insult, but The Heroines genuinely have songs that would sound at home on A Night at the Opera. “God Knows I’ve Tried” and “Liquor Store on Mars” are easy highlights, both fantastic ballads within the Bowie, Elton John Tradition, but accented with elements of My Chemical Romance and Amyl and the Sniffers.
“Cover You” is another standout, thanks to its sexy grooves that let bassist Tommy Gent and drummer Sebastian Boyse show off. Guitarist Matt Peach swaps between power chords and May-esque solos with ease, and may have a shot at making it cool for guitarists to wear Lynyrd Skynyrd hats again. Karter is the frontwoman, one of the best working right now in fact, but the band is a tight unit first, who get an incredible amount of sound out of low-key bass, drums guitar, vocal setup.
Speaking of tight units, openers Torture Twin also deserve a shoutout. The two guitar, one drum trio’s debut Chicago visit left a strong impression thanks to their unique focus on new wave inspired arpeggiated guitar harmonies and great vocals from project mastermind Andrew Devin. Devin has great presence, Joe Strummer swagger, or like a live action version of the Gorillaz bassist, with possibly the greatest rat tail in the game right now (iykyk). I was left wishing there was less need for live tracks, particularly in a few moments with an invisible bass player, but that felt more like a logistical need than a creative choice. I’d be excited to see them with a longer set and a larger band.
Back to Karter’s set, at about the halfway point, Gent and Boyse take five, leaving Karter and Peach alone for a few acoustic songs. The duo cover “Holding out for a Hero,” with everyone in the wall-to-wall packed Beat Kitchen venue singing along. Best moment of the night goes to the following acoustic song, “Superdream,” an unrehearsed fan request.
“I don’t think we’re going to make it through the song without crying,” Karter says.
Photos by Benjamin Sheridan Photography
